Nighttime Beach Restrictions Summary Report for Main and Cowell Beaches CITY OF SANTA CRUZ Prepared by: Parks and Rec and Police Departments November 2019 BEACH NIGHTIME ACCESS RESTRICTIONS The City has restricted access to Cowell Beach and beneath the Santa Cruz Wharf during the hours of midnight to an hour before sunrise since April 23, 2013. On September 10, 2019, the City also placed similar restrictions on Main Beach. During these restricted hours, beachgoers are limited to only using the dry sand portion of the beach as a means to access the wet sand portion of the beach. The wet sand portion of the beach has not been restricted and remains available to the public for beach related activities. This report will describe why the restrictions were necessary, how they affect public use of the beach, and the effectiveness of the restrictions. Why did the City restrict access on the dry sand of Cowell Beach and Main Beach during the middle of the night? Like many jurisdictions that provide recreation services, the City of Santa Cruz closes its parks during the nighttime hours to prevent injuries, protect public property, deter illegal activities, and to focus limited budgetary and staffing resources to daytime hours. Unlike its parks, the City of Santa Cruz does not currently close any of its beaches during the nighttime hours. All City beaches remain open 24 hours a day. Cowell and Main Beaches, however, currently limit access on the dry sand portion of the beach during the wee hours of the night. It is very common for beaches in California to be maintained with open and closed hours. The examples are numerous and can be found from northern to southern California and occur at local, county, state, and even federally managed beaches. Within the City of Santa Cruz, the State of California closes Seabright Beach at 10 p.m., Its Beach at sunset, and Natural Bridges State Beach at sunset. Essentially, out of the five beaches within the City, the only two that are not closed are the City’s Main and Cowell Beaches. In 2012, there was a very strong spike in illegal activities occurring on Cowell Beach and beneath the Santa Cruz Wharf. The area is dark and lends itself to “look-outs” who can alert groups about law enforcement presence and patrols. The types of unlawful activity which occurs during the night commonly includes camping, narcotics use, alcohol consumption and abuse, defecation, urination, littering and consumption and distribution of other drug paraphernalia. The City tried various tactics and tools to improve the beach area such as utilizing ATVs, accessing the beach area by way of the adjacent Dream Inn Hotel, and modifying staffing and patrol times. Typically, during the graveyard shift, the Police Department will have one officer on patrol in the beach area. The beat encompasses the triangular area bordered by Third Street, Beach Street and Pacific Avenue which also includes the Municipal Wharf, Cowell Beach, Main Beach and the Dream Inn. Given the on-duty officer’s other patrol duties, the need to be near the vehicle during the majority of the shift to promptly respond to emergency calls for service, and the large size of the beach area, it is not practical to assign the officer to conduct foot patrols of Main Beach on multiple occasions during a given graveyard shift. After trying various strategies with limited success, the City began exploring the idea of setting beach hours. The adjacent Seabright State Beach closes at 10 p.m. which allows for the State to clear the beach at that time. After many discussions with California Coastal Commission staff, it was determined that closing the beach was inconsistent with California Coastal Commission policy. Instead, the City declared a nuisance and placed a restriction to limit access on Cowell Beach in 2013. The restriction was designed and intended to follow California Coastal Commission guidance for establishing curfews (Attachment 1, 1 Page 1994 California Coastal Commission Guidance on Actions Limiting Access). The City did not apply for a Coastal Development Permit because the California Coastal Act describes that “no provision of this division is a limitation on…the power of any city or county or city and county to declare, prohibit, and abate nuisances” (pg. 3). In 2014, during the previous Beach Management Plan update, the City included the beach closure on Cowell Beach as part of the Beach Management Plan to ensure the California Coastal Commission had an opportunity to review the restrictions on the beach as part of the plan. The plan was adopted with the understanding that the City would return to the California Coastal Commission with more information as part of the next Beach Management Plan update. The Beach Management Plan is updated every three to five years. The nighttime access restriction on Cowell Beach remains in effect today. Criminal activity has been persistent and ongoing during the nighttime hours at Cowell Beach and the beach area beneath the Santa Cruz Wharf. These activities not only create an unsafe environment at night, but the impacts can be observed during the morning hours and are often hazardous. The City removes litter, human feces, broken glass, and used needles from the beach. There have been severe instances when a beachgoer or employee has stepped barefoot on a used hypodermic needle which had been recklessly discarded in the sand. There have also been times when shelters have been burrowed into the sand with inhabitants unknowingly at risk to higher tides, beach grooming equipment, and the occasional slippage of the adjacent hillside. Additionally, camp fires are occasionally built underneath the Santa Cruz Wharf, a timber structure (Attachment 2, Photos). Cowell Beach is an important recreational destination for the community and surrounding region, and maintaining a safe and clean beach environment is paramount to encouraging public access. Enabling illegal behaviors for a few at night discourages public access to many during the day, as fears and perceptions of potential hazards deters legal use of the beach. For example, City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation staff often receive feedback from parents who are concerned that Cowell Beach is not a safe environment and debate whether or not to enroll their kids in the Junior Lifeguard Program. The Junior Lifeguard Program enrolls more than 1,000 children during the nine week summer program on Cowell Beach. Youth are taught essential water safety and life skills that serve them for the remainder of their lives. It is an important community resource and has provided generations of youth knowledge and skills to access the water. As staff was preparing the application for the 2019 Beach Management Plan update, conditions on Main Beach became a pressing issue that required immediate attention. In light of the September 2018 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision in the Martin v. Boise case, the no camping rule which existed on Main Beach could no longer be enforced. The court ruled that “so long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in [a jurisdiction] than the number of available beds [in shelters], the jurisdiction cannot prosecute homeless individuals for involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in public.” With no ordinance in effect, it was only a matter of time before Main Beach became used for an encampment. Once an encampment starts, it can quickly grow. As of August 15, 2019, there were two to three illegal camp sites on Main Beach. A couple weeks later, that number rose to 40. The City does not have a Coastal Development Permit to allow a homeless encampment on Main Beach. Additionally, the camping activities necessitated additional Police resources to be assigned in response to routine beach maintenance activities being disrupted. It is the City’s responsibility to ensure the beach maintenance staff have a safe work environment. 2 Page Growing concerns about the condition of the beach prompted immediate action. The City currently monitors water quality at Main and Cowell Beaches due to the poor water quality rating. Cowell Beach continually is listed on Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card as a “beach bummer” for being one of the dirtiest beaches in California due to exceedances in water quality standards and high levels of bacteria. During the timeframe of the illegal camping, there was a significant spike in enterococcus and fecal coliform readings. As the City continues to grapple with finding solutions to the public health crises of homelessness and the opium epidemic, it has determined that the beach is not conducive to a major camp with no opportunities to provide the necessary facilities and services. Additionally, during the same timeframe, illegal storage of sidewalk vendor items on the beach was growing as well. Neither Cowell Beach nor Seabright State Beach, despite being located adjacent to Main Beach, had similar issues because both beaches had nighttime restrictions. In response to growing public concerns, on September 10, 2019, the City adopted a similar restriction as exists on Cowell Beach, restricting access on the dry sand portion of Main Beach from midnight to an hour before sunrise. The nighttime restriction was adopted for a six month period. Access is still allowed for members of the public to cross the dry sand portion of the beach to reach the wet sand portion and water. Within days of the curfew coming into effect, the beach was cleared of illegal camping and vendor storage activities. How do the restrictions affect use of the beaches? From midnight to an hour before sunrise, beachgoers can cross the dry sand portion of Cowell and Main Beaches to access the wet sand portion of the beach. The wet sand portion of the beach remains open to the public twenty-four hours a day. The “wet sand” portion of the beach is that portion of the beach that is wet as a result of the wash of waves or tidal action. During these restricted hours, the public can still enjoy a variety of recreational activities on the beach such as jogging, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, meditating, walking, sightseeing, observing nature, etc. The restrictions enable law enforcement to make contact with beach users during the late night hours. Presence on the beach during nighttime hours constitutes an infraction in and of itself, thereby providing police officers with probable cause to contact and cite persons suspected of engaging in other nuisancerelated criminal misconduct. During these contacts, beach users violating the law receive warnings and/or citations and must leave the beach area. The beach restrictions are a tool to improve enforcement and deter illegal behaviors. If problems become persistent and frequent, enforcement staffing resources can be coordinated to address the issue and deter the activities. As word of the enforcement activities spread, illegal use of the beach area drops. Beyond the City Council meetings when establishing the restrictions were discussed, the City does not receive complaints from the public about the limited access hours on Cowell and Main Beaches. The City does, however, still regularly hear from citizens concerned by the illegal activities which occur on the beach and the hazards and unsightly conditions caused by them. In review of the public correspondence received as part of the September 10, 2019 City Council meeting to restrict beach access on Main Beach, the public comments were overwhelmingly in support of the beach restrictions: 359 people voiced support, 8 voiced opposition, and 6 voiced unclear positions (Attachment 3, Written Public Correspondence for Establishing Restrictions on Main Beach). 3 Page How effective are the restrictions? Police Department staff have compiled data between crime rates, crime types, arrests, and citations for Main and Cowell Beaches. There are several challenges in gathering data for this analysis. The first challenge is that the data is all geocoded as “Cowell’s beach” even if it does not pertain to the curfew areas. To ensure there was an accurate data set, all narrative notes for each case were indexed and filtered. Data was then pulled from a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system for calls for service, and Alliance, the Records Management System, for bookings and citations. Similarly, calls for service which may have occurred on Main Beach may be slightly misaligned because they may have been listed under 400 Beach Street or the Boardwalk. There are also more general challenges in trying to assess how effective the beach restrictions are. Crime is a complex issue with numerous variables and external influencing factors. Drug abuse continues to be a significant contributor to crime within the community. Similarly, there are times when heavy patrols are needed, and other times when beach related-impacts for that specific time period are negligible. These times fluctuate throughout the year and do not appear to be directly correlated to the warmer months. Other statistics are very difficult to gather or to accurately describe the existing conditions. Potential maintenance statistics such as pounds of trash cannot be obtained because the City cleans the beach with beach grooming equipment, and the equipment picks up unrelated items in addition to trash, most notably heavy deposits of kelp. Additionally, the City currently collects statistics for the number of used hypodermic needles found in public spaces. The number reportedly found at the beach may be low because some needles may be hidden below the sand or collected with the beach grooming equipment. Cowell Beach Since put into place in April 2013, the beach restrictions on Cowell Beach continue to demonstrate that it is an effective tool to address ongoing nuisance related impacts. The calls for service during curfew hours nearly tripled from 2011-2013 from 36, to 90, to 135 (Fig. 1). After 2013, calls for service during curfew hours steadily declined from a peak of 135 in 2013 to 65 in 2018. During 2013 and 2014, calls for service during nighttime hours spiked, contributing to approximately one third of all calls received during the entire 24 hour day. The beach restriction time period is typically when calls for service should be at its lowest point during the 24 hour period. It is also when there are less law enforcement resources available to respond or initiate contact through patrols. Additionally, from 2011 to its peak in 2014, the number of police hours spent addressing the calls for service during the beach restriction time period grew from 9 to 47 hours per year at its peak, before dropping back down to 31, 19, 18, and 20 for years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively (Table 1). 4 Page 800 300 700 CFS Count 600 200 500 400 150 300 100 200 Total hours spent 250 Curfew - Count of CFS Outwith - Count of CFS Curfew - Hours spent Outwith - Hours spent 50 100 0 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Year Figure 1. Number of Police Department calls for service and number of Police officer hours spent responding to calls for service on Cowell Beach during the curfew times and outside of the curfew times. 2019 only includes January – April data. The clear majority of calls for service are generated between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., which may be the result of an increase in staffing which occurs at this time (Fig. 2). It could also be the result of many beachgoers arriving to the beach in the morning to report beach conditions. There appears to be more opportunity to effectively utilize the beach restrictions to reduce the number of daily calls for service, as more enforcement of the nighttime restrictions could further curtail illegal activities prior to the dry sand being available for beach use. However, given the limited staffing resources available during nighttime hours, the nighttime restrictions do effectively allow for the planning and deployment of targeted enforcement resources when the conditions become frequent and longer in duration. Just as those problems can quickly arise if left unchecked, so to can those problems be addressed once the word spreads that enforcement is occurring on Cowell Beach. 5 Page Hour of day 22 21 23600 0 1 500 2 3 400 20 4 300 200 19 5 100 18 6 0 17 Total 7 16 8 15 9 14 13 12 11 10 Figure 2. Number of Police Department calls for service on Cowell Beach by time of day for years 2010 2019. 2019 only includes January – April Data. The number of calls for service during nighttime hours is not limited to the warm weather months and ebbs and flows throughout the year (Fig 3). The nuisance related behaviors and impacts require enforcement tools and strategies which will remain in place and can be utilized quickly to address problem areas. Given variations in calls for service throughout the year, the curfew is effective in helping law enforcement respond to problem areas when necessary. Not only would it be impractical, but it would also be ineffective to return to decision-makers to declare a nuisance prior to enforcement each time illegal activities and nuisance-related impacts increased on Cowell Beach. 6 Page 120 100 80 60 Curfew Outwith 40 20 Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan May Sep Jan 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Figure 3. Number of Police Department calls for service during curfew hours and outside of curfew hours on Cowell Beach by month and year. 2019 only includes January – April data. The total number of criminal bookings on Cowell Beach increased in 2010, 2011 and 2012 prior to the 2013 curfew (Fig. 4). The overall number of bookings decreased significantly after the restrictions were put in place. From 2013-2018, on average, nearly one third of bookings per year have occurred during the nighttime restriction hours for Cowell Beach. 90 80 70 60 50 Outwith 40 Curfew 30 20 10 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Figure 4. Total number of Police Department bookings during the curfew times and outside of the curfew times per year on Cowell Beach. 2019 only includes January – April data. Unsurprisingly, the rate of infractions increased during curfew hours in the years following when the curfew came into effect (Fig. 5). Members of the public risk receiving an infraction if they are using the dry sand portion of the beach for any activity other than crossing it to reach the wet sand portion of the 7 Page beach and/or water. As described above, breaking the curfew provides probable cause for Police Officers to make contact and to more closely observe whether or not other laws are being violated. 350 300 250 200 Outwith 150 Curfew 100 50 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Figure 5: Number of infractions given to offenders per year on Cowell Beach. 2019 only includes data from January – April. City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation staff collected data on the number of hypodermic needles found within or adjacent to Cowell Beach. The needle count does not reflect the number of needles that were removed from the beach by members of the public or by means of the beach grooming equipment. Despite the nighttime restrictions on Cowell Beach, hypodermic needles continue to be found on the beach area, with 2018 being a particularly higher year (Table 1). The opioid epidemic continues to be an issue within the community. The curfew is one tool to help discourage drug use on the beach during curfew hours. Table 1: Number of used hypodermic needles removed from Cowell Beach. Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 (January - September) Needle Count 25 52 42 177 90 Source: Needle log of needles found by Parks and Rec staff on Cowell Beach. 8 Page Main Beach The number of calls for service on Main Beach more than doubled from 153 in 2013 to 323 in 2014 (Fig. 6). Only a small portion of calls occurred for Main Beach during the beach restriction time period. The top five call types for incident reporting, listed from highest to lowest, were camping complaint (261 calls), medical emergency (109 calls), drunk in public (91 calls), violation of county/municipal ordinance (80 calls), and disturbing the peace (69 calls). Figure 6: Calls for service to the Police Department by year and hour of the day for Main Beach. 2019 only includes January – July data. During late-August 2019, there was a very significant rise in the levels of fecal coliform and enterococcus which corresponded in the timing of a homeless encampment on Main Beach (Fig. 7). Given the 2018 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision in the Martin v. Boise case, the existing no camping on the beach rule could not be enforced. The number of campers quickly grew from 2-3 campers on August 15. As it became evident that camping was not going to be enforced, word spread and within two weeks there were forty campsites setup. Both of the adjacent beaches, Seabright State Beach and Cowell Beach, maintain nighttime restrictions on access and did not have the same issues. After the City Council declared a nuisance and placed similar restrictions on Main Beach, the camping activities quickly dispersed and contamination levels sharply dropped and normalized. 9 Page Figure 7: Fecal coliform and enterococcus readings for Main Beach from August 2018 – September 2019. 10 P a g e The number of used hypodermic needles found on Main Beach by Wharf maintenance staff has grown from 27 in 2015 to 176 found in 2018 (Table 2). As of September 2019, the number of needles is already approaching the total number found in 2018. Table 2: Number of used hypodermic needles removed from Main Beach by Parks and Recreation maintenance staff per year. Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 (January - September) Needle Count 27 80 124 176 169 Source: Needle log of needles found by Parks and Rec staff on Main Beach. Conclusion: The types of nuisance-related impacts in the beach area are ongoing and the pattern is cyclical. Without enforcement, word quickly spreads that the beach area can be used for illegal activities and the problem grows. As the problem grows, the types of nuisance-related impacts grow, increasing beach users concerns about safety, and the City’s concern for ensuring public health and safety. For the latter, this concern not only stems from beach users encountering unsightly hazards during the morning hours, but also concern about safety of users during the nighttime hours, wherein staff observe camp sites burrowed into sand near the tideline or cliffside, respond to emergency calls for service in the middle of the night, and, in one instance, have responded to an actual rave occurring on the beach, with music, a blow-up pool filled with potable water during a drought year, and a large crowd. Given the City’s limited staffing and budgetary resources, only one Police officer is assigned the beat which includes Cowell and Main Beaches. This Police officer cannot regularly patrol the beach area by foot. The officer needs to be by the patrol car in the event that there is a need for an emergency response. The beach area is unlit, dark, and their presence is easily spotted. Any illegal activities would simply be hidden or dispersed. Without probable cause, there is no reason to approach and question nighttime users. The beach restrictions are effective because they allow for Police officers to initiate contact through probable cause. During the contact, they can more closely observe the situation and ask for the violators to move along. As word spreads of the enforcement activity, the illegal activities and corresponding nuisance-related impacts decrease for a short-time until they return. The Police Department can strategically plan when more police resources are needed to conduct these patrols to ensure the safety of Police officers when making contact. In the case of Cowell Beach, the amount of calls for service and the number of hours spent addressing issues on Cowell Beach during curfew hours has declined since the curfew came into effect. As the Main Beach curfew was implemented only several weeks ago, and while statistical data on its impact is not yet available, staff have observed a noticeable decline in illegal activities there as well. Despite the improvements, the need remains to have a rule in place. Of particular concern, the number of needles found on the beach continues to grow. Though the curfew will not solve the opioid epidemic, it can be used to help move people off the beach during the restricted hours. City staff do not 11 P a g e believe the beach area is an appropriate place to enable this type of illegal activity. The City’s beach area is not a location where anything and everything goes. The beach restrictions have become even more necessary in light of the 2018 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision in the Martin v. Boise case which limits enforcement of no camping rules and ordinances. In the recent Main Beach situation, an illegal encampment quickly grew within a matter of weeks. With what appears to be linked to the camping activity, the fecal coliform and enterococcus readings sharply increased. Despite numerous community and City efforts, Main and Cowell Beaches remain as some of the dirtiest beaches in California. Despite growing concerns, there were no rules in place to control the situation. None of the issues were present on the adjacent Seabright State Beach or Cowell Beach. Seabright State Beach is closed at 10 p.m. to any beach access. Cowell Beach has beach restrictions from midnight to an hour before sunrise. There was growing concern that the Main Beach would turn into a major encampment with no controls and services in place. The City Council adopted a similar restriction as found on Cowell Beach, and, within a matter of days, the issues were addressed. In short, the beach restrictions are not the end-all solution to the nuisance-related activities and impacts. It is, however, an effective tool to curb the activities and lesson the severity and duration of the impacts. It helps address illegal activities which occur by few at night which prevent the general public from using the beach during the day. It is the responsibility of the City to promote the equitable use and access of this shared resource. Attachments: 1. 1994 California Coastal Commission Guidance on Actions Limiting Access 2. Photos 3. Written Public Correspondence for Establishing Restrictions on Main Beach 12 P a g e STATE OF CALIFORNIA—THE RESOURCES AGENCY PETE WILSON, Governor CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION 45 FREMONT, SUITE 2000 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-22W VOICE AND TDD (415) 904-5200 June 23, 1994 TO: commissioners FROM: Peter Douglas, Executive Director Linda Locklin, Public Access Program Manager RE: Proposed Guidance on Actions Limiting P blic Access to Beaches and Stale Waters (Beacb Curfews) I. INTRODUCTION The following is proposed guidance for review under the Coastal Act of governmental actions limiting public access to and use of beaches and State waters. The principal purpose of this guidance is to identify an approach that minimizes restrictions on the general public's Constitutional and statutory rights of access to beaches and State waters while at the same time ensuring that public safety concerns are adequately addressed. Another purpose is to identify procedures for the review of these actions which are expeditious and which take into account fiscal constraints faced by all governmental agencies. The "guidance" set forth below, was previously presented and discussed by the ' Commission at its February meeting. At that time, the Commission directed the distribution of the staff report for public review and comment. The Commission has received several comments on the proposed guidance (copies of letters from local government are enclosed). Shortly after the Commission asserted jurisdiction over beach curfew ordinances under the Coastal Act last year, a lawsuit was filed against the . Commission by the city of Long Beach and three bills were introduced in the Legislature to eliminate the Commission's jurisdiction to review beach curfew ordinances. Since those events, the commission has acted on two beach curfew ordinances (city of Coronado and the City of Long Beach). The.Commission approved both curfew ordinances in large part because they were generally consistent with the "guidance" staff had prepared and had indicated would be used in crafting its own recommendations to the commission. Both the City of Coronado and Long Beach modified their proposed curfew ordinances to address the major concerns expressed by the Commission and staff. The key elements in both ordinances and the proposed guidance are the following: o The presentation of evidence sufficient to enable a reasonable person to conclude that a public safety problem in fact exists warranting the imposition of a beach curfew. o An evaluation of alternatives to a sweeping curfew and the exclusion from the curfew of beach areas that could be excluded without compromising public safety. ' o Exemption of the wet sand area along the ocean's edge for fishing, walking, jogging and access to State waters. o The inclusion of a "sunset" clause or the guarantee of periodic review, including public hearings, on the need to continue the curfew in effect. Since the commission's action on the two ordinances, the city of Long Beach has agreed to drop its litigation and the proposed legislative measures have either been dropped or have not been heard and have missed legislative deadlines for action. staff continues to recommend Commission approval of the' proposed guidance because it is an effective and efficient way to indicate to local government, other public agencies and members of the public the general approach the commission has taken relative to the review of beach curfew ordinances. In addition, because there are many curfew ordinances and because, based 'on experience, they will be changed in a number of ways (e.g. hours may be changed and result in an earlier or later closure, certain beach areas may be exempted from the curfew), it is appropriate to develop a procedure for the expeditious handling of such actions under the coastal Act. The proposed guidance is modeled after the approach taken two years ago in dealing with the review of temporary events under the coastal Act. In that case, when the commission asserted permit jurisdiction over temporary events that were occurring with increasing frequency and occupying larger areas of the beach for longer periods of time, guidelines were adopted that specified which types of events would be subject to coastal permits and which would not. The commission agreed with staff that the vast majority of temporary events raise no coastal Act issues warranting coastal permit review. To date the process adopted by the commission for temporary events is working well. In attempting to take a similar approach relative to beach curfews, staff was informed by counsel that there is currently no provision in the coastal Act to enable the commission to treat beach curfew ordinances in the same way temporary events were dealt with. In order to do that, an amendment to the coastal •Act would be necessary. In fact, when the issue regarding temporary events arose, the Commission supported legislation that provided for the approach now being used. In that regard, the Executive Director has had conversations with senator Bergeson about the possibility of amending her bill relating to beach curfews to mirror the approach taken for temporary events. She has expressed a willingness to be of assistance but wants to see what sort of guidelines the commission might adopt. This is another reason staff is recommending that the commission concur in the proposed guidance. If the commission concurs, senator Bergeson and her legislative colleagues can determine if they wish to approve a coastal Act amendment to enable the Commission to deal with beach curfew ordinances and changes to them in a manner similar to the temporary events procedures. By concurring in the staff's recommendation at the July meeting, the commission would be giving preliminary approval to guidelines that would have to be formally adopted at a future commission hearing after the coastal Act has been amended to authorize the approach staff recommends in the proposed guidance. In any event, commission approval of staff's recommendation would have no formal, legal force or effect. such action would provide guidance to staff about factors that will be considered in reviewing coastal permit applications for approval of beach curfew ordinances. It would also be an indication to the Legislature of the approach the commission is prepared to take if authorized to adopt guidelines and procedures on the subject in the future. Obviously, the proposed guidance set forth below does not constitute regulations requiring review by the Office of Administrative Law. II. STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR COMMISSION ACTION: The staff recommends that the commission give preliminary approval to the proposed guidance set forth in Section V below. The staff further recommends that the Commission authorize staff to work with senator Bergeson and members of the Legislature to secure enactment of legislation to permit implementation of the proposed guidance similar to the manner in which temporary events were handled. III. GENERAL BACKGROUNQ The people of California, through Proposition 20 in 1972, and the Legislature, through the coastal Act in 1976, have charged the California coastal Commission, in partnership with local government, with ensuring that "maximum access...and recreational opportunities shall be provided fpr all the people consistent with public safety needs and the need to protect public rights. rights of private property owners. and natural resource areas from overuse." The commission has been involved in balancing these objectives for over twenty years. It has evaluated and resolved countless conflicts among competing uses in a manner that protects coastal access while meeting concerns over public safety and natural resource protection. many decisions in this area, however, have not come without controversy. Recently, considerable attention has., for various reasons, been focused on commission review of local government actions to restrict public use of beach parking lots and beaches to protect public safety. much of this attention has failed to explain accurately the nature of the issues and has distorted the extent of disagreement between the commission and local government. The commission, local government and the California Department of Parks and Recreation share common goals in protecting public beach access while ensuring public safety. ISSUES The central issues, in brief, are two: first. does the coastal commission have the jurisdiction to become involved in actions by local government and the Department of Parks and Recreation to restrict public use of beach parking lots and beaches; and second. what types of controls on the time, place and manner of use are reasonable and appropriate to meet both public access and public safety concerns: The answer to the first question is clearly yes. The answer to the second must be developed on a case by case basis and depends on the unique circumstances applicable to the particular site under consideration. DISCUSSION The coastal Commission is very sensitive to and concerned about public safety as well as the difficulties coastal local governments face in ensuring a safe beach environment for residents and visitors alike. Indeed, the coastal Act requires that the commission and local government take public safety into account when reviewing public beach access issues. Furthermore, any local government that deems it necessary to take immediate action to protect public safety by temporarily closing a beach, may do so without any involvement by the Commission. However, the indefinite or longterm closure to public use of beaches and access to State waters brings into conflict important public policies and interests. In 1972, voters approved the citizen sponsored Coastal Protection Initiative (Proposition 20) to guard against the loss of public access to the coast resulting from growing population and development pressures. Protection of beach access is among the highest priority policies in the Coastal Act of 1976 and the right of access to State waters is guaranteed in California's Constitution. However, these policies and rights are not absolute. The Commission must balance public access needs with those of public safety and the protection'of environmentally sensitive habitat areas, such as wetlands. The California Coastal Act of 1976 incorporates a careful division of institutional responsibilities for coastal management decisions between local governments and the State, acting through the Commission. many decisions are delegated to coastal cities and counties, while others of statewide or greater than local importance are retained within the Commission's continuing jurisdiction. The latter include issues dealing with public access and recreation, public works projects and major energy facilities. The Legislature clearly believed that coastal public access and recreation issues are of such importance to all the people of the State, not just to those who live in seaside communities, that permanent-state level oversight was warranted. At the same time, however, the Legislature recognized that the time, place and manner in which public access is protected may need to be regulated based on the facts and circumstances in each case (emphasis added, see section 30214 Public Resources Code). The Commission recently became concerned as a significant number of beach parking lots, accessways and beaches were closed to nighttime public use. The reasons given for these actions are public safety and lack of public funds for police protection and beach patrols after dark. In fact, the reasons are often more complicated. In some instances, early closure proposals stem from complaints by local residents about traffic and noise caused by beach visitors. Such cases present a clash of interests between those who live in close proximity to a beach and inland residents who travel to the beach for recreation. In one case, San Diego's request for early closure of several beach parking lots was not supported by City law enforcement officials siting the absence of crime statistics for the areas in question and expressing concerns that greater public safety problems could result by further reducin g the number and geographic distribution of places inland residents can go in the evening for recreational activities. In that case, the Commission approved closures but not as early as had been requested by the city and nearby residents. In Long Beach, a murder which led to a new beach curfew occurred on a public street and not on the beach itself. The commission approved an early closure of several parking lots but felt that closing all the beaches in the City to all public use, in perpetuity, at 10 pm was not warranted under the circumstances and that it did not appear alternatives to such broad prohibitions had been adequately explored. As mentioned above, City filed both a lawsuit against the Commission and worked with staff to the address commission concerns. When the City modified its curfew ordinance in the ways previously summarized, the Commission approved the new curfew ordinance and the city agreed to drop its litigation. Similarly, a beach curfew ordinance for the city of Coronado was approved by the commission after the city made modifications consistent with the guidance set forth in this and the earlier staff report on this subject. The commission is acutely aware of the problems fiscally stressed coastal communities face as they try to cope with threats of crime and violence. The Commission is also sensitive to the importance of prevention and not waiting until crimes have actually been committed to take protective actions. Finding the proper balance between protecting public safety through preventative actions and protecting, against unreasonable infringement on fundamental public rights and freedoms of access to public resources, such, as beaches and ocean waters, is the challenge. The commission has experienced situations where local pressures led to actions which, while responsive to local concerns, did not take into account the interests of people outside the local community who . have a right to use the beach and have access to ocean waters. coastal local governments share with the commission, as a statewide agency, the responsibility to balance conflicting interests and to determine, in each case, if the identified problems truly warrant closing the beach, beach accessway, or beach parking lot or if other alternatives may redress those problems. Because of the historical importance and continuing high value attributed to beaches and ocean waters, and the public's right of access to them, the protection of public access is given special status in the coastal Act. In struggling with these issues, the Commission has distinguished between the closure to public use of beaches and of support facilities, such as parking lots, accessways, piers and boat launching ramps. It has given closest scrutiny to the closure of beaches. The commission considers many factors: whether alternatives to closure have been explored and whether alternative access opportunities exist nearby; whether the closure is longterm or temporary; whether all public uses are prohibited or whether some uses, such as fishing, swimming and walking a -lc:41g the water's edge, are permitted; whether a closure gives preferential treatment to local residents at the expense of visitors; and whether concerns over public safety are legitimate or whether they are merely an excuse to privatize a coastal neighborhood's amenities to the exclusion of those who do not live near the seashore. some have asked why the Commission cares if a beach is closed after dark. Again, the Commission examines each case individually. However, in many areas of the coast, law abiding citizens use the beach at all hours of the night for fishing, swimming, scuba diving, walking and jogging, socializing around a ground fire, camping, boat launching and surfing. Their legal right to do so should only be curtailed in very narrow and compelling circumstances. Unfortunately, contemporary urban communities face serious problems involving criminal acts of violence, vandalism and theft. How we, as a society, respond to this threat is one of the most profound challenges of our time. obviously, we must address root causes. until we find those answers, however, and because we are a democratic people who cherish our fundamental freedoms, we must be careful not to trample on the rights of honest citizens in our zeal to ensure public safety. Recognizing this, the commission has, in prior decisions, approved actions by local government to regulate the time, place and manner of access, depending on the factual circumstances in each case. IV. A. BEACH USE RESTRICTIONS AND COASTAL ACT REVIEW Public safety Exemptions to Coastal Act Review: 1. Emergencies: In public emergencies where a law enforcement agency temporarily closes a beach, parking lot, accessway or other coastal recreational facility to protect life or property, 114 review by the coastal Commission or pursuant to the Coastal Act is authorized or appropriate. In emergency situations requiring immediate action to protect public safety, these decision are entirely within the discretion of the responsible law enforcement officials. In these situations, the assumption is that the closure will remain in effect only for the duration of the emergency. 2. Public Nuisance Declared: Similarly, in situations where a local government declares a public nuisance the abatement of which requires the closure, no coastal Act review is required. (Section 30005 (b) Public Resources code) Obviously, there must be a legally declared nuisance, based on evidence, and a directive must be issued to abate the nuisance by, among other actions, closing the public facility. Examples include, the closure of an unsafe beach access stairway or a beach below a failing structure, such as a house damaged by natural disaster. Again, the assumption is that the closure will remain in effect only until the declared nuisance is abated. Only in cases where there is a clear abuse of the nuisance exemption (e.g., when it is used solely as a means to circumvent Coastal Act review, used to unlawfully discriminate against members of the public, or used to give unfair preferential treatment to residents of the community in which the facility is located) might the commission become involved by questioning the closure action. 3. Grandfathered Curfews: In cases where a beach curfew or beach use restriction was enacted and has been enforced prior to and since February 1, 1973, such ordinance or action is npl. subject to Coastal Act review. However, significant changes to such restrictions (i.e., changes not consistent with the guidance set forth below) are subject to review pursuant to the Coastal Act. February 1, 1973 is the date on which the regulatory controls of the Coastal Protection Initiative (Proposition 20) went into effect. The definition of "development" requiring coastal commission review in Proposition 20 is, in relevant part, the same as that contained in the Coastal Act of 1976. B. cases Where Coastal Act Review Is Required: In cases where Coastal Act review is appropriate, the following discussion is intended to assist the Commission, Commission staff, local governments, other management agency officials and members of the public in understanding the factors relating to the time, place and manner of public access restrictions that should be given careful consideration. Some have questioned whether the commission has legal jurisdiction over locally enacted beach curfews. Indeed, this was the central issue in the litigation filed by the City of Long Beach and was the subject of the proposed legislation previously mentioned. It is the staff's position, based on nearly twenty years of practice and Commission actions, that the Coastal Act, with several very narrow exceptions, clearly confers jurisdiction on the commission over any action by any party, including a local government, that affects public access to beaches and/or State waters. The imposition of beach -7- curfews, other than those adopted to abate a legally declared nuisance or in response to an emergency order issued by the appropriate law enforcement agency, obviously has a significant impact on public access to beaches and State waters. Prohibiting public access and use is the very purpose of a curfew ordinance. Section 30106 of the Public Resources Code defines "development" requiring a coastal permit, in part, as a "change in the intensity of use of water, or of access thereto." Additionally, section 30009 PRC states that "[the coastal Act] shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes and objectives." In the recent case of Surfrider Foundation v. California Coastal commission (Court of Appeal NO. A0616591, the Court of Appeal examined the Commission's scope of authority to deal with public access issues that involve actions which may not constitute physical development. The court stated that many indirect impacts on access were contemplated by the Act's public access policies. The court found that: "[t]he 1975 [Coastal] plan also warned of indirect or nonphysical impediments to access, including reduction of road capacity and off-street parking, unavailability of low-cost housing and tourist facilities, and proliferation of expensive recreational facilities. (Citation omitted.) Thus, the concerns placed before the Legislature in 1976 were more broad-based than direct physical impedance of access. For this reason, we conclude the public access and recreational policies of the Act should be broadly construed to encompass all,impediments to access, whether direct or indirect, physical or nonphysical." (Emphases in original.) - In situations where Coastal Act review is required, a number of issues must be evaluated pursuant to coastal Act policies. It should be underscored that not every review of a closure action is conducted by the Commission. In many cases such review is undertaken by the appropriate local government having a fully certified local coastal program (LcP) in place and where the coastal development permit-issuing authority has been delegated to that local jurisdiction. However, even in cases where a permit is issued by a local agency, the local action may be appealed to the Commission because it affects land areas located between the first public road and the ocean. (See sections 30603 (a)(1) and (b)(1) Public Resources Code) Determinations as to which entity has review responsibility must be made on a case by case basis and jurisdictional questions should be discussed with Commission staff. I. Evidentiary Finding and consideration of Alternatives: whenever a management agency (e.g., a City Council, Board of Supervisors, local Park and Recreation Department or District, state or federal agency) takes an action to restrict public use of a beach, access to State waters, parking lot or other coastal recreational facility on the basis of public safety, some credible evidence demonstrating the existence of a public safety problem should be provided. The quantity, quality and specificity of the evidence needed to substantiate the existence of a public safety problem is a matter of judgement. one test is whether the evidence is sufficient to enable a reasonable person to conclude that a public safety problem actually exists. The key factor is whether the action was taken for actual public safety reasons (e.g., the protection of person or property against injury or damage) or primarily for reasons associated with complaints by community residents about noise, traffic, or diminution of community amenities. Solutions to these types of problems can often be found through other means, such as -8- management measures or site planning. Once a determination has been made that an actual public safety problem exists, issues to be addressed involve whether the proposed solution is commensurate with the nature and extent of the problem. Alternatives should be evaluated and could include such measures as increased police patrols, neighborhood watch programs, lighting, prohibitions on consumption of alcohol, restricting automobile parking, short-term closures of problem areas, and limiting longer-term closures to the problem areas. 2L, Hours and Duration of Restrictions: There are several dimensions to this consideration - the hours of closure on any given day (i.e., weekdays, weekends, holidays); change in hours based on the season; and the overall duration of the closure (i.e., How long will it stay in effect? will it be periodically reviewed?). Prior Commission actions illustrate the range of management measures the Commission has approved pursuant to the coastal Act, depending on - the facts in each case. Generally, times of closure of beach parking lots range from 8 pm in the winter to midnight and opening about one hour before sunrise. with respect to public beaches, the commission has only rarely approved any closures. In a few exceptional cases where special circumstances existed, the Commission approved sunset to sunrise closures of some beach access facilities. Factors to be considered in reviewing hours and time-of-year closures include evidence of when the activities that give rise to public safety concerns occur, the amount of public use at particular times (e.g., weekdays, weekends, holidays, summer or winter, mornings or evenings), the availability of alternative parking or access opportunities nearby, and the hours of operation of other, similar public facilities in the same general area. many closure ordinances are permanent and impose use restrictions in perpetuity. Because circumstances and conditions change, the Commission has, in its recent actions, limited the duration of coastal permits for closures to a fixed period of time (e.g., 1, 2 or 5 years) with the possibility of subsequent extensions if circumstances warrant. The duration of a permit depends on the circumstances unique to each case. For example, a time-lock gate on a beach accessway was permitted on a trial basis for one year in Carlsbad. similarly, an early evening parking lot closure was approved in San Diego for two years. At the end of that period the city requested and received a five year extension of its permit based on information (i.e., statistics) showing a significant reduction of crime associated with the use of the parking lot. By placing a limitation on the duration of the closure, a periodic review of the use restrictions is ensured. Periodic reviews offer an opportunity to review the facts to determine whether conditions have improved sufficiently to warrant an easing of the restrictions on public use. ILL Place: In addition to the temporal dimensions of the restriction on use, their spatial reach is also of concern. For example, if a public safety problem exists in a limited and defined geographic area, it may not be necessary or appropriate to impose use prohibitions on all similar facilities throughout the jurisdiction. This was the issue of concern raised by the Long Beach ordinance which prohibited all public use on all the beaches within the city's jurisdiction (i.e., nearly eleven miles of shoreline) despite the absence of any showing of public safety problems on all city beaches. Another example is the city of coronado's proposed beach closure ordinance which -9- sought to close six tenths of a mile of beach at 10 pm because of criminal activity primarily concentrated in an area where fire rings are located. Discussions between commission staff and city representatives led to an agreement limiting the closure to only that portion of the beach that is problematic (i.e., about 1/10 mile). The City subsequently modified its ordinance and, as a result, approximately one-half mile of beach will not be subject to the early closure (if approved by the Commission later during this meeting). Efforts should be made to focus on the specific area or area's where the problems exist and to craft any closure or curfew ordinance accordingly. This approach avoids an overly broad application of beach use restrictions while addressing public safety problem. At the same time, difficulties in enforcement that may result from a complicated ordinance should be taken into account. Accordingly, it may be acceptable to subject a certain area (i.e., dry sandy beach landward of the wet sand) to a curfew even though it has no history of public safety problems because that is the most feasible way to enforce the ordinance and because doing otherwise would confuse the public about where they can and cannot go. Equally problematic is the situation where a broad closure ordinance is proposed due to lack of fiscal resources to patrol a beach area even though no public safety problems have been identified. Indeed, the rationale for the breadth of several recently enacted curfew ordinances has been represented to be that it is easier to close all the beaches at a given hour than to close them at different times. while the Commission should be open to these arguments as a basis for a broad closure, it should be recognized that enforcement of broad closures (i.e., all the beaches in a jurisdiction) also have cost and feasibility ramifications and alternatives should be considered. 4. manner and Type of Use: A prohibition on all types of uses during times of closure are problematic. Distinctions between types of uses subject to restrictions are important. For example, fishing, jogging and walking on the wet sand and transiting the beach to get to the wet sand or to enter the water should be exempted from use restrictions in most areas. The greatest concern of law enforcement officials seems to involve the congregation of people after dark in certain locations on the beach or in parking lots whose behavior creates conditions that lead to vandalism or other types of crime and violence. one way to prevent or avoid this type of behavior is to close the problem areas during certain hours. Less intrusive on existing public access rights may be an ordinance that targets the uses that cause the problems. For example, camping on the beach by homeless persons seems to be another concern. Depending on the facts and circumstances of the situation, uses that may lend themselves to some degree of effective control include nighttime parking, stopping or the driving of cars in certain areas, camping, making fires in undesignated areas, barbecueing, picnicking, unlawful assemblies, and loitering. An ordinance that prohibits the entry of cars into problematic beach parking lots after certain hours accompanied by physical barriers that block vehicular ingress but allow egress may well solve the problem. In this case, people could still walk through the parking area to get to the beach or leave the parking lot in their cars if they remain on the beach after the lot closes. V. PROPOSED GUIDANCE: The following guidance is applicable to the review of any legal action by a public agency, other than those actions exempt from coastal Act review, which prohibits or substantially restricts public use of beaches and access to State waters. If the subject action includes the elements described below, no Coastal Act review would be required. 1.1Eindings: The action should be supported by a statement of facts and findings that explain the reasons why the action is being taken. Although it is not necessary to cite a list of statistics, a reasonable evidentiary basis is needed to establish the justification for the action limiting public access. The findings should also include a discussion of what alternatives to the prohibitions were considered and why they were not implemented. L. place: The geographic area to which the prohibition of public use applies should be specifically identified and should be limited to those beach areas with respect to which the governing body has identified public safety problems warrahting the closure action. Considerations relating to enforceability and whether the boundaries of the- areas to be closed are readily identifiable to the public can be taken into account. Contained or enclosed beach areas and other suitable areas where law enforcement is feasible, such as beach areas adjacent to or in close proximity to visitor serving commercial uses (i.e., hotels, restaurants, campgrounds), should be considered for longer hours of operation. The important aspect of this element is that the responsible governing body carefully consideralternatives to sweeping closures of all beaches within its jurisdiction. This consideration is important in determining whether the restrictions on public access are reasonably related and responsive to the public safety problems or concerns which prompted the governing body to take the closure action. 2, uses: unless special circumstances warrant it, the prohibition of all public uses during the period of closure should be avoided. At the discretion of the responsible governing body, uses should be specified that are either prohibited or permitted. Whichever way the uses are identified, at a minimum, the following public uses should be allowed: a) Fishing by members of the public having in their possession a valid California fishing license; b) walking or loafing on the wet sand which is that portion of the beach that is wet as a result of the wash of waves or tidal action; and c) special events for which public use has been authorized by the appropriate governmental official. consistent with fishing and walking or jogging on the wet sand, going to or coming from the wet sand by the most direct route available in any given location would also be permissible. Actions relating to the closure of beach parking lots should include the installation of tire traps to enable vehicles to exit the lot after closure. 4. Time: As with the elements •set forth above, the timing of beach closures can vary depending on the geographic area, the applicable circumstances, the day of the week, holidays, and the season. Hours of closure should be curtailed during periods of high public use (i.e., summer months, holidays and weekends) unless special public safety problems are associated with public use on these days. Given patterns of public use, it is important that variations in hours of operation be considered and that longer hours of use be provided, where possible, during peak use periods. If any restrictions on public use of a beach are warranted, it is recommended that hours of closure be limited to the period between 12 midnight and one hour before sunrise. However, if the appropriate governing body determines that public safety concerns warrant an earlier beach closure in the evening, the hour of closure may be lowered to 10 pm without coastal Act review. An action closing a beach earlier than 10 pm or opening the beach later than one hour before sunrise requires review pursuant to the coastal Act to determine if special circumstances exist to warrant more restrictive hours of operation. The hours of closure of beach parking lots can vary, but closure no earlier than one hour after sunset and opening no later than one hour before sunrise would not need coastal Act review. More restrictive hours may be approved after coastal Act review depending on the circumstances. Sunset provision: An action by a governing body to impose restrictions op the hours of public use of beaches or access to state waters should be limited in duration and should contain a specific sunset clause (i.e., 1,2, or 3 years). This provision would require reenactment of a beach closure ordinance or other action on a regular basis thereby allowing public input and a reevaluation of current circumstances that may warrant a relaxation of the hours of closure. It should be clear that hours of operation can be adjusted at any time when circumstances warrant. 6. Notice: when a governing body takes an action to change the hours of operation of a beach, prior notice should be provided the commission to enable its staff to submit comments for consideration. In any event, notice of any action taken to prohibit public use of a beach should be given to the Commission as soon as possible. 7. Procedure: If the elements set forth above are included in an ordinance or other action by the responsible governing body that limits public access to beaches and state waters or beach parking lots, the action will not be deemed a "development" for purposes of section 30106 of the Public Resources code and nocoastal permit will be required. Review of the status of every jurisdiction's beach closure ordinance or other action restricting hours of beach or beach parking lot use will occur on a case by case basis. commission staff will contact each governing agency to arrange for a mutually convenient schedule to meet and discuss the issues and determine what further action, if any, is appropriate. Pending this review, preexisting beach and beach parking lot closure ordinances or other actions will continue in effect, for purposes of the coastal Act, until and unless the Commission takes legal action to the contrary. CONCLUSION The approach and guidance suggested in this report offer a reasonable and efficient way to deal with the issues raised by the closure of beaches and beach parking lots. It addresses concerns about both public access and public safety and avoids costly and divisive arguments over questions of civil liberties, constitutional rights, police powers and jurisdiction, and the relative rights of seaside residents and inland residents to use beaches that belong to all the people. 3065E Photos Fire on the beach Example of trash left behind from nighttime activities. Camping beneath the Wharf. BBQ beneath a wooden structural beam at the Wharf. A fire in this location is a very serious concern. Campsite is located within beach grooming area. Some mornings have limited visibility due to fog. A campsite which is burrowed in the sand is a few feet away from the tide. Example of vendor storage which occurs overnight on the beach. 4 . :?-mss??Jr?547w Wa??azzPhotos taken as the number of campsites on Main Beach were growing. Camping has occurred under this hillside. The signage is not visible at night. Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Whitney Wilde Thursday, September 05, 2019 8:33 PM City Council Main beach There’s an old saying: “trying to put out a fire while wearing snow shoes.”    That’s what you continue to try to do. You chase the homeless from one spot to another, but the issue  remains: we have a homeless population. Until you do something to alleviate that, you’ll just keep chasing  them around.    Use your energy to create a camp, or partner with churches to provide many campsites.... SOMETHING  besides chasing them around. Other cities have led the way, follow their lead for what's working. There’s not  just one answer, it’s a many faceted set of programs to get people off the street and keep them homed.    When you do the same thing and get the same result that does NOT work, it’s a waste of your time and  taxpayer money.    Whitney Wilde    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jackie Signor Thursday, September 05, 2019 9:20 PM City Council Homeless “campers” on Main Beach Homeless/transients camping on Main Beach is not only unsightly but unsanitary and dangerous as well. Many tourists and locals come down to the beach for recreation purposes. People camping overnight on the beach leaving who knows what in the sand is NOT safe. These “campers” are increasing daily! This NOT the area for these folks to be landing and the beach must be cleared of these overnight “guests” Thank you, Jackie Signor 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rod Atchison Friday, September 06, 2019 11:43 AM City Council Main Beach I fully support the the staff's proposed regulations relating to occupancy of main beach. Full?? time occupancy  of the beach is not only an infringement on the rights of the general public but also presents a significant  health issue. ?? I have witnessed fouling of the beach by some overnight campers, and the uninterrupted  infringement on areas intended for daytime beach goers is contrary to the principles applicable to public parks  and open spaces.    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Gene Manako Friday, September 06, 2019 11:09 AM Martine Watkins; City Council; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers Main beach curfew To whom it may concern,    I am writing to voice my strong endorsement of the proposed Main Beach curfew. My daughters regularly play  volleyball at Main Beach, so having an impromptu homeless camp adjacent to teenage girls playing volleyball  is abso(fucking)lutely unacceptable.     I am sympathetic to the plight of the homeless, but allowing them to live on a very popular beach poses a  serious health risk to all parties involved. And lest we forget we're a tourist town and Main Beach is one of our  most popular tourist beaches ‐ so are we going to scare off tourists so we can cater to the needs of the  homeless again?!    Gene Manako  (Longtime Santa Cruz resident, taxpayer & father of 2 daughters born and raised in Santa Cruz)  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mitchell lachman Friday, September 06, 2019 11:08 AM City Council camping on the beach    I for a camping ordinance as proposed. Also there is,            Also a need to be addressed, is car camping at parking  sites at Light house beach or so called “steamers  Lane”, i.e. West Cliff Road.  There is a midnight curfew, but people dominate the parking sites, and are there  all day long and sometimes  up to the curfew hours. It has be come a public nuisance, threats, etc. form some  of the campers.      Good bye, Mitchell Lachman  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: HEATHER BORUTA Friday, September 06, 2019 11:03 AM City Council Please ban camping on Main Beach Dear City Council Members, I am writing to request that you please enact an ordinance that will prohibit overnight camping on Main Beach by establishing a curfew. As a local resident with children who enjoy the beach, a surfer passionate about taking care of our oceans and an employee in Santa Cruz's tourism industry, I implore you to pass an ordinance quickly before we end up with another "Ross Camp" situation. I know you will do the right thing. Thank you! Kind Regards, Heather Boruta 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ronald Jr Perrigo Friday, September 06, 2019 10:52 AM City Council Fwd: Main Beach/Encampment issues ---------- Forwarded message --------From: Ronald Jr Perrigo Date: Wed, Sep 4, 2019 at 9:54 AM Subject: Main Beach/Encampment issues To: Martin Bernal , Megan Bunch Good morning Martin, If those tents get out of hand, and the giant sifter can't get close enough to clean, we can help mitigate those effects down there, extra trash detail or what ever else cannot be accomplished through conventional means. I realize you know our record, we are a can do group. Thank you, Ron 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jenn Douglas Friday, September 06, 2019 10:37 AM City Council Main Beach Please enforce the no camping rule and no trash dumping rule on Main Beach.     I am currently looking for a town to move to that the homeless & addicts don’t have complete control over. I  am disgusted but what Santa Cruz has become. People who pay their taxes are the only one that has to follow  rules because we actually risk penalties. You’ve let these people park their nasty RVs wherever they want,  camp wherever they want, dump their trash, and drug paraphernalia wherever they want. I am so sick of it  and sick if the city doing truly nothing about it, while the issue just grows and grows and grows.     I am done, I am moving. Lived over 30 years, own my own home but I can’t live in this community you’ve let  happen, that has so much theft and disregard for common human dignity. The homeless and addicts have one.  I throw in the towel.     Sincerely,  Jennifer Douglas       1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Kathy Curtis Friday, September 06, 2019 10:44 AM City Council Please enact a beach access policy as proposed. Lets start cleaning this place up. Kathy Curtis 557 Arroyo Seco  Santa Cruz      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Garrett Friday, September 06, 2019 10:43 AM City Council Sept 10, 2019 Agenda item #1 Main Beach Public Access Dear Council, There is nothing in the Martin Boise decision that prevents cities from enforcing certain places, and certain times from prohibitions on overnight camping. You simple lack the fortitude so far to draw some lines at least as to where general lawlessness ends and the common safety and respect for rules begins. The homeless should not be permitted to use their homelessness to play by different rules than everyone else in regard to common decency, obey laws , in all places at all times. The Martin Boise decision does not say that they should be allowed to. We can start with this agenda item to establish some order, some decency, some respect, for our naturally beautiful beaches as one place squatters cannot squat as they wish, engage in criminal activity as they wish, any time they wish. My only regret here is it doesn't seem apply to EVERY beach as these squatters will just move to another beach tide permitting. The homeless in this town are becoming increasingly defiant and the attitude of some on the council who seem to champion the homeless, bad behavior and all, is creating an air of tolerance for bad behavior both in and out of council meetings. This should stop. While walking to the council meeting up Church street on the 8/27 meeting there were several homeless lying prone perpendicular across and blocking the sidewalk to pedestrian traffic. I had to walk out into the street. This is one small example of defiance and lack of self respect they are bestowing on the city. It actually occurs seems like everywhere now in all places at all times and is getting worse, not better. I thank and support the originators of this agenda item. I see it didn't come from the council. I am glad at least and at last the police and City Manager are showing this fine leadership. Better there than none at all. Sincerely, Garrett Philipp 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Gene Manako Friday, September 06, 2019 10:39 AM City Council Main beach curfew To whom it may concern,    I am writing to voice my strong endorsement of the proposed Main Beach curfew. My daughters regularly play  volleyball at Main Beach, so having an impromptu homeless camp adjacent to teenage girls playing volleyball  is abso(fucking)lutely unacceptable.     I am sympathetic to the plight of the homeless, but allowing them to live on a very popular beach poses a  serious health risk to all parties involved. And lest we forget we're a tourist town and Main Beach is one of our  most popular tourist beaches ‐ so are we going to scare off tourists so we can cater to the needs of the  homeless again?!    Gene Manako  (Longtime Santa Cruz taxpayer & father of 2 daughters born and raised in Santa Cruz)  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jean Brocklebank Friday, September 06, 2019 10:33 AM City Council Main Beach – Public Access Policy (PR) Dear Council ~    I wholeheartedly support the proposed Main Beach – Public Access Policy (PR).    Sincerely,  Jean Brocklebank  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Cyndi Adcock Friday, September 06, 2019 10:25 AM City Council Main Beach Esteemed City Council Members, My family moved here in part to enjoy the great beach volleyball scene that Santa Cruz has to offer. We immediately felt at home in the healthy and active beach volleyball community. So, it’s very upsetting to see what’s happening to beach volleyball courts at Main Beach. I’ve had friends have to clean trash off of courts to play a game, had family members harassed by people staying in tents, seen disturbing activity in the women’s bathroom, found used syringes on a court, and had family members witness someone defecating feet away from the court (only a stones throw to the public bathroom). It’s only a matter of time before someone steps in human waste or on a used needle barefoot (as the game is played) assuming this hasn’t already happened. The obvious concern is for public health and safety as well as the environmental impact of allowing overnight camping to continue on Main Beach. Please don’t allow this great outdoor recreational area to continue to be abused in this way. Lastly, I appreciate your service in a tough and thankless job. It must be very difficult to be a leader of our city working on complex problems in such divisive times. Cyndi 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tom De Meo Friday, September 06, 2019 10:26 AM City Council Fwd: Main beach camping Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Tom De Meo Date: September 6, 2019 at 9:07:11 AM PDT To: citycounci@cityofsantacuz.com Subject: Main beach camping Council I am very concerned about the dangerous president of allowing transient camping on the main beach. This situation will only escalate as Gatway did.Please pass a new ordinance or enforce existing laws to stop this asap. There are provisions in Mv Boise for public safety. A no camping midnight to 6am ordinance would work. Thanks for your attention to this matter Sent from my iPhone 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sharon deJong Friday, September 06, 2019 10:12 AM City Council I support the curfew on Main Beach Good morning council members. I am in full support of a curfew on Main Beach. We simply cannot have people camping there overnight. There are no bathrooms. Main beach is not a campground, it's not a place to live. You saw what a disaster Ross Camp was (those not in complete denial did anyway) We absolutely cannot afford to have that happen on our beautiful beaches. Remember the garbage? The disease? The needles? It's time to say no. Curfews like boundaries are a good thing! Can we please think about our delicate ecosystem? The sea lions, seals, otters, fish, dolphins, birds, whales and crustaceans do not need additional feces and garbage in their habitat. It's bad enough already. These innocent beings shouldn't have to continually pay the tab for our dysfunction. As a former Leveelie that cleaned up mounds of trash from our waterways for several years I saw first hand the harmful items that were carelessly dumped in the river. Spray paint cans, batteries, plastic bags, bike parts, kerosene cans, lighters, bottles, needles, sleeping bags, cellphones, clothes, shoes, shopping carts, even a few laptops. These items can harm or kill sea life. Are any of you OK with a needle inside a pelican beak? I am not. I grew up here, I was kicked off that beach a number of times as a teenager. No one argued, the cops showed up and said "off you go kids" and off we went. Please focus on doing the next right thing instead of having to be right. Sharon deJong 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sarah Szczerbicki Schwegler Friday, September 06, 2019 10:09 AM City Council Please impose curfew on Main Beach and all the beaches Hi City Council, Please impose a curfew and no camping on our city beaches. Main beach, all of them. Please save and protect our Marine Sanctuary from the feces, trash, and needles going into the ocean. Please protect our beautiful Santa Cruz. -Sarah Schwegler 410-627-5447 sarah.szczerbicki@gmail.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: voiceofjoy8 Friday, September 06, 2019 10:02 AM City Council approve the proposed Main Beach access policy I strongly believe this policy needs to be implemented. As a grandmother with grandchildren all residing in the city of Santa Cruz, who frequent that beach, I feel our safety is at risk from the campers on the beach, due to health hazards from drugs, needles, and potential unsanitary conditions. Joyce Newkirk Escalona Avenue Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lars Mapstead Friday, September 06, 2019 9:58 AM City Council Beach Camping We need to enforce our Laws and allow our Police to do their Job, Enforce the Overnight camping ban on the main beach. Our beaches are not a public restroom. The amount of needles left by the Junkies is on the rise and has been a problem around the Dream in hotel for many years. Public safety must come first and allowing Junkies to Camp on the beach is a recipe for disaster, Do you really want The ross camp on the main beach ? Get with it and take some action for the Community. Stand up for the Law abiding Citizens and start cracking down on the Thief's and Junkies who are making living in this town miserable. Lars Mapstead 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jenifer Mandella Friday, September 06, 2019 9:00 AM City Council Main Beach topic 9/10 city council agenda Hello City Council Members, I am writing in support of implementing a Main Beach Public Access Policy that limits the use of Main Beach to daylight hours only. I understand and am compassionate towards homeless individuals, and can see that there's an obvious link between mental illness, substance use / abuse, and homelessness. I am also compassionate towards you, City Council members, for the insurmountable job you've been given to "solve" this incredible challenge. But I am also compassionate towards the hard working, taxpaying community members who are slowly but surely having their community taken away from them, and being told that we are being "selfish" and "compassionate" for our reaction to the rampant bad behavior happening around town (public urination / defecation, public injection drug use, thievery, abuse of shopkeepers and people walking around minding their own business, to name a few). We need to have limits, and I draw the line at camping on the beach for two main reasons: (1) it scares away tourists, which is absolutely unacceptable in a town that relies as heavily as we do on the tourism business. For the sake of self preservation alone, can we clean ourselves up, so tourists keep coming back, so people who work in this town can still have businesses and jobs, so that our local government can still have a tax base? (2) it sends a message to homeless individuals in other places, drawing more out-of-town homeless, which then stretches the existing network of organizations serving local homeless people beyond their capacity. Let's focus on our own community members that have fallen into homelessness, rather than inviting the nation's homeless here. Santa Cruz has multiple shelter options that individuals can avail themselves of, rather than living on the beach (without adequate access to restrooms, running water, etc). I have heard that homeless activists dislike these camps because they limit personal freedom. Do you know what limits my personal freedom as a housed person? The fact that I spend 50 hours a week in an office working so I can pay my bills. I'll leave it at that. I don't know what the "solution" to our homelessness situation is, but any public health professional will tell you that prevention is where to start (look at the HIV crisis of the 1990s - good prevention strategy has made fear of HIV almost unknown at this point). It's essential that we retain and promote spaces for 'good clean fun' in the area; spaces like parks and beaches and forests that families can go to without being afraid that someone will hurt them or their children. As mental health goes untreated, drug abuse and homelessness rise, limiting the safe areas where kids and families to get outside, get some exercise, and enjoy their lives. We as a community need to prioritize giving our communities ways to socialize and spend their time that don't involve drugs, screens, or other antisocial behaviors. Preventing Main Beach from turning into Ross Camp would be a good start. Thanks, Jenifer Mandella Santa Cruz, CA 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Nancy Maynard Friday, September 06, 2019 2:21 AM City Council; Martin Bernal; Martine Watkins Stop the camping on the beaches This is how camp Ross started Nancy Maynard 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Dennis Hagen Thursday, September 05, 2019 10:00 PM City Council Main Beach camping Main and Cowell beaches are both historic recreation areas.  They are not campgrounds.  Please preserve these two treasures and protect city residents and tourists alike.  Prevent overnight camping on these beaches!  Dennis Hagen  City of Santa Cruz  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Katherine Wyle Thursday, September 05, 2019 9:33 PM City Council Beach Please don’t let the homeless destroy Main Beach. We want our children to be able to go to that beach, and be able to play beach volleyball. If there are needles, poop, trash, etc. -it will ruin Santa Cruz. At least when they were all confined to Ross camp people knew where to go to look for their stolen bikes etc. If the crime is spread around to the beaches, this could be a big problem. We all feel bad for the few that have fallen on hard times, but we can’t tolerate, encourage, enable, the rest of it. Concerned tax paying citizen trying to keep children safe 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Eric Bloom Friday, September 06, 2019 11:48 AM City Council Overnight Camping on Main Beach Please pass an ordinance to prohibit overnight camping on Main Beach. ---------------------------------------------Eric Bloom 235 Meadowlark Ln, Aptos, CA 95003 Phone: 831.685.3742 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Jessica Grigsby Friday, September 06, 2019 2:34 PM City Council Main Beach Camping IMG_6342.jpg Dear City Council Members, I am a business owner, attorney, parent and avid beach volleyball player in the City of Santa Cruz. I am writing you today because the situation at Main Beach has grown increasingly worse to nearly intolerable. I am hoping that by describing what the volleyball community is encountering daily, it may help to guide your decision regarding curfew on Tuesday. I have attached a picture taken Tuesday of this week, but it could be any given day or time on Main Beach. The health hazards brought by "campers" should be a real concern to the Council. I have personally encountered feces, vomit, and urine along the walls of Main Beach and on the sand courts themselves. The smell of human excrement has made court 2 completely unplayable. I find trash strewn across the beach and the courts - most of which is so disgusting that Public Works is called by the police to remove it. I have, while playing barefoot, found used drug needles, AND every single time my foot encounters something sharp in the sand I am fearful that it is another needle. I frequently encounter intoxicated and verbally abusive individuals who accost me or tourists for money along the walkway. I have witnessed physical altercations and drug overdoes. I have personally called the police or flagged down patrol cars countless times in the last few years. If I dare to use the public restroom by Ideal Restaurant, I often find people bathing in the sinks, hanging out reeking clothing and smoking in the stalls. I am not comfortable allowing my 13 year old daughter to be a part of the Santa Cruz Beach Volleyball Club that meets at Main Beach, and I would never allow her to be on this beach unattended. I am embarrassed when family and friends visit and see the state of one of most iconic beaches in the State. I implore you to enact curfew and encourage our law enforcement to enforce such an ordinance. Enough is enough - we're losing the civility of our community one tent at a time. Best, Jessica S. Grigsby, Esq. Owner/Operator Kayak Connection www.kayakconnection.com (831) 479-1121 1 I ?t?J J- 3,1,1 ll" 51:5?. 0 ?0 I It Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Bobbi Todaro Friday, September 06, 2019 2:20 PM City Council Camping ban on Main Beach I support the ban!    Bobbi Todaro         Sent from my iPhone      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Calhoun, Ben Friday, September 06, 2019 2:16 PM City Council 'Ben Calhoun'; Michelle Swanson-Calhoun I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED SANTA CRUZ MAIN BEACH 10PM CURFEW 100%!!!!!! Importance: High I STAND UP FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL SANTA CRUZ AND SUPPORT THE PROPOSED 10PM CURFEW.         NOTICE: This email message and/or its attachments may contain information that is confidential or restricted. It is intended only for the individuals named as recipients in the message. If you are NOT an authorized recipient, you are prohibited from using, delivering, distributing, printing, copying, or disclosing the message or content to others and must delete the message from your computer. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by return email. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Maggie Duncan-Merrell Friday, September 06, 2019 2:14 PM City Council Curfew on Main Beach To each of the members of the Santa Cruz City Council‐    I am writing today to ask that you vote in favor of the resolution to implement a curfew on Main Beach. While  I am confused as to why we need a resolution to enforce a rule that’s been in place for decades and thusly feel  this resolution is redundant, I am hopeful you will still vote yes on this important action. Our beaches are not  camp grounds. The beach has always closed after dark and camping has NEVER been allowed on Main Beach  though for for some reason our law enforcement has opted to allow this highly destructive behavior to take  place for months.     We are a community that treasures our beaches and ocean front. Do not let Main Beach, or any beach for that  matter, become the next Ross Camp Debacle. Vote in favor of the curfew please.    Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Now do the right thing and stand up for Santa Cruz!   Sincerely ‐    Maggie Duncan‐Merrell  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Leighann Curci Friday, September 06, 2019 2:11 PM City Council main beach agenda item Good afternoon, I'm emailing to express my support of the general business agenda item #1 main beach restrictions. Not just for six months but forever. I live two blocks away from the main beach, and I have to wonder if the increased petty crime of late (thefts, public drunkenness, vandalism) aren't tied to this growing encampment. Additionally, I no longer use the beach in my neighborhood for fear of stepping on a needle or in feces. I frequently am faced with both while parking my car or walking down my street. It's extremely embarrassing to explain to family/friends visiting from other areas of the state why we won't be using one of the main tourist attractions of the town. Thank you, Leighann Curci 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Swisher Friday, September 06, 2019 2:04 PM City Council Camp on beach City council of santa cruz,  I urge you to do what you can to remove the camp on boardwalk beach.  Respectfully, Mary Swisher   Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Paul & Elaine Figliomeni Friday, September 06, 2019 2:03 PM City Council Zombies Here’s a few ideas. 1. Put an end to your “sanctuary city” policy. We all know this policy was created to allow illegals from other countries safe haven from ICE. But it has also created a vacuum for any homeless person from a non sanctuary city across the nation , unfettered access to ruin the city of Santa Cruz. 2. Put an end to your “hands off the homeless” policy and let the SCPD do their job and arrest them for possession. The ridiculous law that allows for only a misdemeanor for possession up to a gram of drugs that can kill you must stop. 3. Stop calling it a homeless problem and call it what is, a drug problem. The enabling of these drug addicts must end. They have become homeless because of their drug problem. They have become mentally ill because of their drug problem. It is putting law abiding citizens and business owners at risk. If this continues, then law abiding citizens will take the law into their own hands. What would you rather have, Zombies? or Vigilantes? You decide. Regretfully, A CONCERNED CITIZEN To help protect y ou r priv acy , Micro so ft Office prev ented au tomatic download of this pictu re from the Internet. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Adriana Gores Friday, September 06, 2019 2:00 PM City Council Main Beach Camping Dear City Council, This a letter to beg you to stop the city from allowing overnight campers on the Main Beach. Words cannot express to you how deeply troubling this is for so many reasons. The environmental hazards of this situation are too numerous to mention. The affect on the enjoyment of the beach by residents and tourists alike is obvious. I have read numerous accounts of disturbing incidences that occurred at the beach by campers including the post here as well as an account of a disheveled man with his hand down his pants watching a teenage girl and her dad play volleyball. I can only begin to imagine the different ways this is impacting the city and the businesses in the thick of this mess. This situation has already made the news on several Bay Area TV stations and papers. That this negatively affects tourism (the lifeblood of this town) cannot be overstated. Please figure out how to clean this up ASAP before it becomes another Ross Camp and all the filth and crime that came with it. Thank You, Adriana Gores West Side Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rachel Soto Friday, September 06, 2019 1:55 PM City Council A huge concern I find it unbelievable that a city council that has time to do things like declare SC a nuke free zone, pass opinions on national events, pass sanctuary city laws, deny the navy access to our town and involve themselves in other national level politics never took the time to do their job and protect what is likely our most valuable natural resource. The main beach is the center of our local tourist industry. Without it their would be no boardwalk, no beach goers, no wharf. No tourist $. Do your jobs and protect our resources! That includes the beautiful redwood forest along highway 9 where drug use is rampant and trash is collecting everywhere. Fires are being lit which could very potentially turn into catastrophic forest fires. Why is this being allowed?!?! Why has Santa Cruz become an open air asylum where people can do whatever they want? Please don't let our town become a total dump! 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The curfew on the Cowell side has been successful at stemming the number of needles and other items found that are harmful to people, marine wildlife and the water quality of the Bay. The beach is not the place people experiencing homelessness should be camping. The marine ecosystem is too sensitive to handle the challenge of people sleeping on the beach. I also question the wisdom of allowing camping not only for people experiencing homelessness, but for the population in general. Why should people who can afford a hotel room while visiting Santa Cruz feel compelled to take on this expense when they can sleep for free on the beach? For people experiencing homelessness, this is not a good solution. It sustains people in a bad situation as opposed to people seeking services and assistance. People experiencing homelessness need housing, not a plot of sand on a beach that was never intended to accommodate camping. Outside media agencies are also reporting that camping is allowed on our Main Beach. This is not good for the tourist industry that employs thousands of people and generates revenue for the city of Santa Cruz. That revenue supports city services, including funds for homeless services and for our city's youth. Please show concern for the environment, people experiencing homelessness, our tourist industry and our city budget by supporting the curfew. Best Regards, Richelle Noroyan 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Julie Friday, September 06, 2019 12:36 PM City Council Free the beaches IMG_3099.JPG; ATT00001.txt Attachments    1 The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America's Most Exclusive Shoreline ANDREW W. KAHRL Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Julie Friday, September 06, 2019 12:37 PM City Council Fwd: Coastal Justice for All! Hollister Ranch #FreetheBeach - The City Project Begin forwarded message: From: Julie Date: September 2, 2019 at 9:29:04 AM PDT To: Julie Schaul Subject: Coastal Justice for All! Hollister Ranch #FreetheBeach - The City Project https://www.cityprojectca.org/blog/archives/45824 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Julie Friday, September 06, 2019 12:34 PM City Council City of Santa Cruz to Consider Main Beach Curfew : Indybay #NoBeachBan #FreeTheBeaches #CaliforniaCoastalCommission    See the following  https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/06/18826051.php          1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Big Joe 77 Friday, September 06, 2019 12:35 PM City Council Public Correspondence: 9.10 Agenda/ Evening Item 01 Main Beach Restrictions Honorable Mayor and City Council. I am in full support of the proposed beach restrictions as written in sec. 1. I would support be in full support of sec to of this Item if the language were to change from a 6 month sunset policy to a lifetime ban on beach camping. There is no place in society for open air drug camp hazmat zones. Ever. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Sincerely, -Big Joe 77 Keepin' it Real Santa Cruz, CA 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Bates Marshall Friday, September 06, 2019 12:22 PM City Council Brianna Main Beach curfew I fully support the camping ban and curfew at Main Beach. The council must act to put the priorities of the overwhelming majority of families, students, visitors, and contributing residents of the city FIRST and stop pouring resources down the drain with endless handouts and enablement of those who choose a life on the streets, a life of theft and crime, and a life of drug abuse. Bates Marshall 409 S. Branciforte Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Susan Schwartz Friday, September 06, 2019 12:19 PM City Council Overnight camping on the public beach To whom it may concern at the city Council:  There must be alternative locations for homeless encampment in the city. Do not allow one of the crown  jewels of Santa Cruz, our beaches, to be ruined by allowing overnight camping on the beautiful beach. There is  a groundswell of folks like me in Santa Cruz that will not support this type of enabling. Please,  please hear us.   Sincerely,  Susan H Schwartz, citizen of Santa Cruz        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Joyce Duncan Friday, September 06, 2019 11:50 AM City Council Beach curfew Please close the beaches at night. There has never been camping a night. Are you kidding?     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: El Solway Friday, September 06, 2019 11:49 AM City Council Concerns about camping at Main beach and beyond Hello, I am writing regarding my concerns about camping at Main beach and other beaches. If we allow this, our beaches will soon become camp sites. It will be completely out of control. The local tourism industry will soon come to a halt if this is not addressed. We have the power to stop it now. As a long time resident of Santa Cruz, I am a very concerned about where this is heading. Sincerely, Ellen Solway 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: The Best Western Santa Cruz Inn Friday, September 06, 2019 2:35 PM City Council Homeless Camping on the Beach Dear Council Members, Although there is an extreme problem with the housing market in Santa Cruz regarding affordability and availability - I believe it wold be untenable to manage people camping on the beach as well as an over-reach of city powers. It is well known that the Pacific shore is under the auspices of the Coastal Commission and Coast Guard, not municipal jurisdiction. Of course, as a hotel, we would prefer that people would book rooms with us instead of camping on the beach. However, we do not expect this population to have the means to afford a room here. You asked for informed opinion regarding this matter and these are my personal reflections upon the issue. My opinions to not represent Best Western or any companies, corporations, or affiliates of the Best Western brand - merely are they, rather, my opinions as a citizen of Santa Cruz County. Sincerely yours, Nick Homick General Manager The link ed image cannot be d isplay ed. The file may hav e been mov ed, ren amed, or deleted. Verify that the link poin ts to the correct file and location. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mara Alverson Friday, September 06, 2019 4:09 PM City Council Keep the beaches clean Please do everything you can to preserve the cleanliness of our beaches. This means no homeless camping. Thank you, Mara Alverson 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Alan Crouch Friday, September 06, 2019 4:07 PM City Council Homeless Camps On Our Beaches Dear Santa Cruz City Council Representatives, I believe it would be in all of our best interests if the City of Santa Cruz enforced an overnight camping curfew on all beaches within the city limits. The massive Biohazard that was the “Ross Camp” cannot be allowed to happen to our city’s lovely beaches. It’s painfully obvious that the Main Beach has become a homeless encampment and is rapidly becoming polluted with their waste. There are numerous risks brought about by allowing the homeless to camp on the beach: 1) Human waste, the spread of communicable diseases, discarded needles etc. make it inhospitable to families who routinely visit the beach 2) Crime escalates in the surrounding neighborhoods, people’s homes are burglarized, automobiles are broken in to etc. 3) There will be a long term economic impact to the area if this is allowed to continue, the once beautiful beaches will become tent-city slums and the tourists will stay home. Let’s come together with better solutions for the homeless, but please let’s keep our beaches clean. Sincerely, Alan Crouch  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kyle Wade Friday, September 06, 2019 4:07 PM City Council Camping Restrictions Main Beach Dear Council, Please impose a curfew on the beach as is on Cowells Beach, to allow the Police Department to enforce this area correctly. 1 Tent has turned into dozens at any given time. There were 2 camps set up when the Ross Camp was closed. The people given vouchers chose too or "Not" to use those options. The houseless community has been given options and continue to not take or use them. I have lived in Santa Cruz since 1976, I have seen the good the bad and the ugly. It seems that the population we are talking about always seems to find the loophole and make it hard for the city gonverment to enforce regulations. Please clean up our Main Beach!!! Kyle Wade 137 S Park Way Santa Cruz, CA 95062 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: SUZETTE Crouch Friday, September 06, 2019 4:05 PM City Council Overnight camping on Main Beach Dear Santa Cruz City Council, Please enforce an overnight camping ban on the Main Beach as well as all beaches within city limits. Our beaches cannot undergo the same situation as experienced with the "Ross Camp" earlier this year. The amount of trash, needles and human waste that will accumulate on the beach will pose an extraordinary health and environmental risk. I visited the Main Beach on 8/31/2019 and was disheartened to see the amount of tents setup on the beach. It becomes pretty obvious the tents are not for day-use when you see trash bags, tarps, bicycles and sleeping bags piled around them. This will impact the tourism to the beach, boardwalk and wharf which in turn affects businesses and city revenue. I believe by not enforcing a ban, the city is rolling out a welcome mat to transients from other parts of the state/country to camp on the beach as well. I mean, who doesn't want beach front property and there are definitely worse places to be homeless... especially as winter is approaching. I am a local and did much business at Gateway Plaza prior to the "Ross Camp". Once the "Ross Camp" was established, I stopped patronizing the businesses (Ross, PetSmart, Chipotle, World Market) as I feared for my safety. I still have not gone back which is unfortunate as local businesses need local dollars. I was also under the impression the City of Santa Cruz was granted $10,000,000.00 specifically to assist with the homeless issue. What has been done with these funds in terms of programs / assistance for the homeless? Sincerely, 1 Suzette Tavares Crouch Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: HOLLIE LOCATELLI Friday, September 06, 2019 3:53 PM City Council Curfew at Main Beach Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,    Please do implement and fully enforce a curfew at Main Beach immediately. We have plenty of data showing  unregulated and unsupervised camps are environmental disasters that generate human waste, garbage,  rodents, disease, discarded syringes, criminal activity and end up being a costly public nuisance. Our city has  worked very hard to improve water quality issues at Cowell’s at great cost. To now sit idly by and watch an  ever growing population of campers undo those efforts at Main Beach is unacceptable. Do not conflate  protecting the beach and Monterey Bay Sanctuary from environmental destruction with a lack of housing or  shelter.   Lack of housing should be discussed when developments are rejected by council because they don’t meet  unattainable expectations of inclusionary units or growth concerns. Allowing camps or RV parking throughout  our neighborhoods, parks or beaches is not a sustainable alternative to housing, it IS growth of the most  substandard and environmentally destructive kind. Stop trying to go it alone as a city when looking for ways to  help the unsheltered and start seriously engaging with our partners at County, State and Federal levels to  come up with real solutions to house/shelter people.  Sincerely,  Hollie Locatelli   Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Chris Ferrante Friday, September 06, 2019 3:48 PM City Council Main Beach Dear Mayor and City Council Members,    A few years back the hotels in the beach area worked with Council members and the police department to create and  support a curfew on Cowells Beach due to the increase in overnight camping. The curfew was needed as the campers  were often drunk, fighting, disposing of their needles and therefore the comfort and safety for our employees and  guests became an issue.     Today we have the same problem on Main Beach. I am hopeful this newer Council can continue to work with the  hoteliers to address the needs of our industry and the community at large.     I strongly suggest we take the same measures and enforce a curfew on Main Beach.  Additionally, I believe banning  enclosed tents would be prudent as well.  A sun shade, umbrella or open canopy is perfectly acceptable for those  enjoying our beaches in a legal and safe manner.    Chris Ferrante  Owner  Beach Street Inn and  Suites  831‐252‐1352        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mark Hull Friday, September 06, 2019 3:45 PM City Council Main Beach Campers Hi this is Mark Hull, I am the California Beach Volleyball Association tournament director. I have been involved in the beach community for the past 43 years as either a player or promoter. I currently run 21 events on the courts throughout the Spring and Summer. I pay the City over $12,000 in rental fees to use these courts. This Summer there were several mornings when i was setting up for either a Junior's event on Wed ( with over 180 young women) or Adult event on a Sat ( with over 160 adults) that I have had to shovel human waste off of the areas directly adjacent to the court or in fact on the courts. The campers set up their tents in areas that cause players to have to adjust where they set up to participate in their tournament. This is not the environment that I want to invite 100's of player , both Juniors and Adults to come play in. I know it is a very tough time for lots of people in the these times, but if there is a curfew on Cowell's Beach, there is no reason to not have it for the courts as it is a continuation of the same use and area. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. Thank You Mark Hull CBVA Santa Cruz Director 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jenny Evans Friday, September 06, 2019 3:44 PM City Council Camping on the beach Dear Martine and City Council Members,     I join others who have written of their fears that Main Beach will soon become a “Ross Camp.” I have watched  the number of tents grow daily with distress! I realize that housing the homeless is a complicated problem  with few easy solutions, and I feel compassion for those who are homeless looking for a place to sleep.  However I am very concerned that our beaches will soon become homeless encampments. Please vote to  adopt the no overnight camping on the sand enforceable rules that the City Staff has written. I can only hope  that all of City Council Members will hear concerned citizens and vote to implement these common sense  regulations.    Sincerely,  Jenny Evans    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Patrice Argel Friday, September 06, 2019 3:32 PM City Council Santa Cruz Main Beach Public Access/Seabright-Twin Lakes/All Santa Cruz Beaches Dear Council, I'm a resident of the Seabright community writing to you with concerns regarding camping on our local beaches and our neighborhood streets. In reading the proposed resolutions for Santa Cruz Main Beach on your current agenda, could you please clarify: Who exactly will be enforcing the policies you make? There isn't anyone enforcing them currently. Will these changes ensure that the policies will actually be enforced? It seems there's a lack of enforcement and this has allowed the illegal camping to continue on the beaches (and in other areas of our community). We have a revolving cycle of people sleeping overnight in their cars, RV's and even on our private hillside that overlooks the harbor. Quick story: I had a conversation earlier this week with a gentleman who's sleeping in his car parked on street. Around 6am, I went up to his tarp-covered door window and confronted him, as he smoked his marijuana. He said he works for Granite Construction (who's working on the seawall/Aldo's project), makes $2,000 per week, chooses to sleep wherever it's legal instead of paying rent anywhere, and it's worked for him for 19 years without a problem. I kindly and assertively told him it's not okay for him to sleep in his car on our street and if he needed assistance, I'm happy to help direct him. He turned my offer down and said he's just fine and showed me a bundle of checks (for some reason). Before leaving, I reiterated it wasn't okay nor safe for him to sleep in his car. I did see him a few minutes later open the unlocked Granite fenced area to access their portapotty. Ugh. I'll be contacting Granite about this. But, he hasn't returned to sleep since, as of yet. All this to say... this gentleman is just one example of someone who's choosing to live lawlessly to avoid paying rent. And at who's expense? We all need to come together and discontinue enabling the situation, enforcing laws, and taking care of the illegal camping in all the different areas of our community. Thank you. Patrice Argel 2034 East Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, CA 95062 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ashley Jennings Friday, September 06, 2019 3:07 PM City Council Camping ban at main beach Dear city council,    As a life time resident of Santa Cruz it has become increasingly worse by the month. The homeless situation is  out of control. Their needs to be a set curfew on people  sleeping on beaches such as main beach in Santa  Cruz.     If the homeless can hang on the beach all night, why should families have to pay hundreds to stay at the  dream inn and other nearby hotels?   Free camping....think about it: this needs to be stopped. This is going to greatly effect the economy and health  and safety of our city.   Thank you,   Ashley Jennings         Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: slgspoll@cruzio.com Friday, September 06, 2019 3:06 PM City Council Prohibit Overnight Camping on Main Beach in Santa Cruz Dear Councilmembers, As soon as possible I urge the council to vote to establish a curfew, and to enforce a strict ordinance that prohibits overnight camping on the Main Beach in Santa Cruz. Thank you for your attention, Liz Pollock 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: denver drake Friday, September 06, 2019 2:58 PM City Council Beach Campers Hello    Allowing people to camp on the beach should not be allowed for many reasons and I am angry that there has  been no enforcement.  I honestly have very little faith left in the council to properly do anything with the  homeless situation so I wouldn't be surprised if you drop the ball on this as well. If the campers are allowed to  stay you are insulting the law abiding, tax paying, and voting citizens of Santa Cruz.  We have had enough.    Denver Drake    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: renee bourdet Friday, September 06, 2019 2:58 PM City Council Beach Camping - Vote to support clean and safe beaches City Council Members: Please vote to impose a removal of the campers at Main Beach at the council meeting on Tuesday. Assuring clean and safe access to our beaches is paramount not only for those who live in this community but for visitors as well. The overnight campers have further exacerbated an already problematic strip of beach. I can no longer allow my daughter to go to this beach to play volleyball or go to the Boardwalk without adult supervision as I have witnessed people doing drugs, attempting to steal personal property harassing people walking by and leaving liquor bottles and general trash behind. Allowing people to sleep on the beach overnight sends a message of acceptance and the problem will grow much like the Ross Camp grew. That was an expensive situation to remedy. Please address this situation before it gets out of hand and show your support for clean and safe beaches by voting to remove the campers. Regard, Renee Bourdet 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jacqueline Mcdonald Friday, September 06, 2019 2:50 PM City Council Main Beach Camp To who it may concern.... which should be all of you.   I am 30 years old. A local in Santa Cruz County. I have frequented MY beaches my whole life. I grew up having  bonfires, summer days, romantic walks, and perfect photography moments alongside the shores.   I am in disbelief that we, YOU, us as a city would allow SQUATTERS because that’s what they are, to camp out  on our beaches. Especially after how Ross Camp turned out. It seems to me you all want the easy way out to  turn a blind eye to our HUGE problem of homelessness and crime. Believe it or not but that’s the can of worms  you are opening once AGAIN by allowing something so remotely unnecessary. I remember being fined at 18  years old for being on Rio Del Mar beach after 10pm due to closures of the beach because of curfew. Will I be  refunded that money??? What makes you think this is a good idea?? We already have issues with needles,  trash and paraphernalia from tourists and our lovely transients and homeless on this beach. I know many who  have actually stepped on them and had to be treated at Dominican. This beach is a TOURIST Attraction for  CHILDREN! If this will be allowed I suggest you put up signs letting us as parents know the real danger you are  putting people in. It sickens me to even have to write this because I know plenty of people in this town have  done the same to all of you regarding their concerns and their complaints. Why haven’t you done anything??  What will it take?? You need to do something NOW before you cause a problem way more than what it is  now. This is our home. This is our beauty. This is our town and city that is going to shit because you won’t  stand up and do something about it. Please think twice about the decision to allow people to camp here. It’s  not safe for anyone. It’s an eye sore, and you are enabling them to act and be what they are. Do the right thing  here and LISTEN to the people who truly CARE about the well being of this town. Because as of right now.....  you all look like ridiculous enablers of this behavior.     Signed A Concerned Citizen!!!             1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ellen Sevy Friday, September 06, 2019 2:49 PM City Council camping main beach Dear council,  Please don’t let there be camping on the main beach or any beach in Santa Cruz.  We must keep the beaches and bay safe and clean.    Please  instruct the police to enforce all laws on the books even the ones that are currently not being  enforced.  Thank you,  Ellen Sevy  42 year resident of the lower westside.              1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Laura Livingston Friday, September 06, 2019 2:46 PM City Council Illegal Camping...still Council Members, Please do what is necessary to protect our parks, our beaches and our neighborhoods from illegal camping and the associated problems that come with it (need I make a list?). Among other things that you as council members are responsible for, such things as keeping me safe, you shouldn't let the City of Santa Cruz lose tourism dollars to operate our local government. Illegal camping and a growing campsite on the beach now? I say absolutely not! Vote to keep the no camping laws in place, and do something to make sure that these laws are strictly enforced everywhere. Laura Livingston City of Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jim McGowan Friday, September 06, 2019 2:45 PM City Council Camping On Our Main Beach I have read the proposed curfew for the main beach and I am in favor of giving it a try. Camping on the beach  has never been legal. Start enforcing the laws! If my old VW Bus was declared a “public nuisance” then this on  the beach should definitely be considered a public nuisance! Enforce our laws equally! Not just against  homeowners!    Sincerely, James C. McGowan    423 Laurent St  Santa Cruz, CA 95060  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Erin Brayton Friday, September 06, 2019 2:41 PM City Council 10 pm curfew support To City Council,    I support the 10pm curfew on Main Beach! Please do not allow another Ross Encampment situation!      Erin S. Brayton  Santa Cruz Resident and Taxpayer  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Ellen Tong Friday, September 06, 2019 2:39 PM City Council Stop homeless tents on boardwalk beach!!! I live on beach hill and am shocked and disappointed that the city is letting a homeless encampment grow on the boardwalk beach. This neighborhood has always had safety and security issues with troubled individuals sitting on benches and on the sidewalk. Sometimes it is frightening to walk our dog. Now the city is ignoring the ordinance for no overnight camping. We have always respected the ordinances on this beach, such as no dogs, even if we would like to walk our dog there. Now the city is letting these campers ignore the law and stay there. Each day there are more. Please stop this encampment now before it grows into a much larger problem. Upon reflection I am also amazed that the city would tarnish the image as a premier tourist location by openly permitting homeless people to live where families picnic barbecue and play volleyball. Now that the press has written two articles on the subject and there are pictures out there about how this critical tourist destination is being affected by homelessness it can severely affect tourism in Santa Cruz. Once visiting families feel threatened for their safety and security Santa Cruz will be a place to avoid not to go to. There is now 34 tents on the beach. We cannot let this continue without hurting our city and the beach hill neighborhood. I am not sure what the thinking was putting a homeless facility smack in the area of the boardwalk wharf and volleyball courts but it sure seems not thought through. Please stop this homeless destination now. We beseech you. Please. Maryellen tong 227 villa mar vista. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ltwiss@cruzio.com Friday, September 06, 2019 2:38 PM City Council Camping on beaches Please keep our beaches clean and safe for all to use.  There are no facilities for camping on our beaches and  the tents must be removed.     Thanks,   Lynn Twisselman    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Debera Liles Friday, September 06, 2019 4:10 PM City Council Main Beach Public Access Policy Dear Santa Cruz City Council,    As a property owner and property tax payer in the City of Santa Cruz, I am writing to you in support of the  proposed Main Beach Public Access Policy section 1.  It is easy to see that the Main Beach is another Ross  Camp in the making.   Let's please learn from past mistakes of the Benchlands at San Lorenzo Park and the  extraordinarily troubling situation that was allowed to develop at Ross Camp.     Surely the Main Beach is  already experiencing needles, feces, urine contamination of the sand.       I implore you to please omit the section 2 sunset clause.    Take a stand.   Make a decision.   Do something.    Sincerely,        Debera Liles                    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Wrecruiter Technical Friday, September 06, 2019 9:23 PM City Council Homelessness on our Beaches Please for the love of god and humanity. Stop this insanity of full time camping at our local beaches.   You must vote & protect our beaches for our current living children and future kids. This repeated drug and  human waste from all the homeless that are camping 24/7 on our beaches is not acceptable please set time  limits and work for us and protect our marine life and children.    Thank you,  Delia Caraway  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sarah Munday Friday, September 06, 2019 9:00 PM City Council Camping on public property Dear City Council members, I write today to ask that you please enforce the “no camping” on our public Main Beach. This situation is unsanitary. This situation is unhealthy for those attempting to live there in their tents. This situation is out of control. The City Council needs to act. This is not okay. Our hard earned tax dollars are being wasted by people who do not want help. The City Council needs to take steps to change this behavior now before it gets even more out of control. I don’t shop downtown any longer. I don’t bring my family or out of town guests downtown. I have not returned to the boardwalk or bought season passes. This is a tourist town and you are losing tourists. This is not good for businesses or the City. The City needs to address the drug addicted people in this town. There are homeless people and there are drug addicted. There are people who want help and a lot of people who don’t want help. I’ve been told “no” when I offered to give someone food who was standing with a sign asking for help. They only wanted cash. They don’t want real help. The City needs to enforce all its laws as it does with every other tax paying citizen. I am tired of being both literally and figuratively defecated on by the drug addicted people wandering our streets. You need to enforce laws. Period. You need to hire more police. You need to get assistance from the County, the State, the National Guard- yes I feel this is a dire situation where people are in distress. This town is too small to have this big of an issue, and it is only getting worse by the day. You need to change what you are doing and help the people who pay for this town and try to save it. Please start by enforcing the laws on our public beaches. Our public parks have already taken a beating, please save the beaches. 1 Thank you, Sarah Munday Sarah Munday Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: beth sorauf Friday, September 06, 2019 8:24 PM City Council Santa Cruz residents against camping on Main Street Beach   Dear City Council:  We appose the plan to allow camping on the Main Street beaches.   Please find a more suitable and common sense solution.   No camping !!!  Beth and family   Westlake neighbor    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Connie Friday, September 06, 2019 7:15 PM City Council Yes to Main Beach Public Access Policy. City Council Members: I am writing to urge you to institute the Main Beach Public Access Policy. We cannot allow campers to create the environmental and social problems that were created with the recent Ross camp. The Monterey Bay is a sensitive area and I am very concerned about the effects of camping and drug use on our beautiful ocean environment. Camping on the beach also directly interferes with tourism and locals wanting to enjoy the wharf, Boardwalk and local beaches. This needs to be stopped before it grows and becomes too big as did the Ross camp. Sincerely, Connie Maschan Santa Cruz, CA 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Margo Montgomery Friday, September 06, 2019 7:02 PM City Council Homeless camping on the beaches... Please do whatever you can to stop this!!!  Sincerely,  Margo Montgomery  512 Woodrow Ave  Santa Cruz, CA 95060    Sent from Mail for Windows 10    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Carolyn Livingston Friday, September 06, 2019 6:44 PM City Council Main Beach Curfew I support the curfew to protect the Main Beach area from becoming a hazardous clean up similar to the Ross Camp. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kristi Friday, September 06, 2019 6:11 PM City Council Camping on the main beach Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Santa Cruz, CA City Council Grew up loving the beaches of Santa Cruz. Got to move here back in 1991 and am saddened to see how much the City has given up on the care and preservation of the town. I vehemently oppose allowing homeless people and their pets from living on the beach anywhere within city limits. Thank you, Kristi FitzPatrick 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sabine Prather Friday, September 06, 2019 5:57 PM City Council HOMELESS CAMPING ON BEACHES Honorable City Council MembersPlease close down the homeless (drug use) camp that currently exists on Main Beach. It is leaving me and my friends (hardworking tax payers) feeling unsafe. I do not want to worry about stepping on needles on the beach. Walking on the beach barefoot is a basic right - why should I have to give that up because people insist on living on the beach and it has yet to be banned? This is scaring off tourists from our town. The Boardwalk has always been a big draw, as is Main beach. However, my friends do not want to come over and be on the beach because they fear for their safety. I fear for my safety! I don't know what kinds of drugs many of the homeless are taking. I don't feel like I should sacrifice my rights so that people can live on a beach and use the sand and ocean as their toilet, and leave needles everywhere. This is totally unacceptable! We need to work toward finding them real housing, get them in rehab, and help them make better decisions. Homeowners here in Santa Cruz have spent small fortunes to live near the beach and pay a hefty price in taxes on top of it. Why in the world would you place the rights of drug addicted (I know they are not all into drugs) homeless above tax paying citizens? Let's get the ones who would like to change into rehab, help the others find housing, and make a difference to cut the population down. Homeless living in squalor is no better than ignoring the problem. It just makes it worse as those of us who are productive members of society have to risk our own health because this is tolerated by many in the city. Thank you for considering the WHOLE Santa Cruz population and for working toward finding a place for those without homes that doesn't put the hardworking population in Santa Cruz at risk and for not allowing them to live on (and mess up) our beautiful beaches and ocean. Sincerely, Sabine Prather 238 1st Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Diana Newcomb Friday, September 06, 2019 5:56 PM City Council Regarding beach access Dear Council Members, I am a resident of the city of Santa Cruz and I have recently become aware that Main Beach is experiencing a problem with camping by the homeless. I believe this is a problem that must be stopped as soon as possible. I support the ordinance to enforce beach access hours not just on Main beach but on all of our beaches to keep the beaches safe clean places for residents and tourists to visit and also to prevent the type of pollution that contaminated the Ross camp from contaminating our shores. I would also like to point out to you to the comment made by one homeless camper and quoted in the Sentinel: [Buchanan] described the former Gateway encampment a “drug den” where people cooked heroin in the tents. Buchanan, 48, added that she also has chosen to avoid the permanent Homeless Services Center shelter in the seven years she has been in Santa Cruz. Why are the homeless avoiding available shelters in Santa Cruz when they are available?? Is it because they prefer to continue illegal behaviors that are not allowed in the shelter, or don't want to follow the shelter rules? Perhaps we should provide more than one kind of shelter; shelters within the city that have structure and require adherence to the law, shelters outside of populated areas where illegal behaviors will be less dangerous and damaging to the general population and businesses in cases where the homeless choose not to follow societies rules, and shelters designed to aid the mentally ill. Thank you, Diana Newcomb Virus-free. www.avast.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Marla Reckart Friday, September 06, 2019 5:37 PM City Council Homelessness on beaches To Whom It may concern: Please clean up our beaches! There are discarded needles and human waste now on the beach with growning numbers of tents! Can't they be moved to the camp that was set already in the city? Marla Reckart Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jet Friday, September 06, 2019 5:26 PM City Council Beach Camping Ban Hi,  Our family is down at main beach a lot. I usually let my 8 and 10 year old boys run around without me  hovering over them. It has a completely different and unsafe feel now. I am requesting that this site be off  limits to camping. Thx!    Jet Quenemoen   West side resident    Sent with positive vibes   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Bonnie Bush Friday, September 06, 2019 5:06 PM City Council Fwd: Item 1 on Tuesday night's Council Agenda PastedGraphic-1.png Bonnie Bush, CMC City Clerk Administrator 831-420-5035 Begin forwarded message: From: Casey Beyer Date: September 6, 2019 at 5:05:08 PM PDT To: Martine Watkins , Justin Cummings , Drew Glover , , Chris Krohn , "Donna Meyers" , Cynthia Mathews Cc: Martin Bernal , Andrew Mills , , Subject: Item 1 on Tuesday night's Council Agenda Dear Mayor Watkins, Vice Mayor Cummings and Council members Brown, Krohn, Mathews and Meyers: On behalf of the Santa Cruz County Chamber, I am writing in support of the City staff’s recommendation on the resolution to limit overnight access to the Main Beach. The Main Beach is the City of Santa Cruz major tourist destination that should be protected and promoted for recreational and related beach activities. It should not be a camp site. I respectfully request you support the City staff’s recommendation. 1) Implement a Main Beach Public Access Policy authorizing the public’s use of the dry sand portion of the beach during the hours of one hour before sunrise to midnight with the provision that the dry sand portion of the beach may be used at all hours to access the wet sand portion of the beach and with the understanding that the wet sand portion of the beach will remain open to the public 24 hours a day in accordance with all currently applicable rules for beach use (e.g. no camping, no alcohol, no smoking etc.) and for all uses by members of the public for which the beach may currently be used (e.g. fishing, jogging, kayak, paddle board and surfboard launching and landing, walking, meditating, swimming, sightseeing, nature observation, special events etc.); 1 2) Direct that the Main Beach Public Access Policy shall automatically sunset six months from the date of its implementation unless before its sunset date, and after a public hearing and a review of then-current circumstances as well as the efficacy of the policy during its implementation in counteracting the negative public health and safety problems the policy was intended to address, the City Council directs that the policy, or a similar modified policy, remain in effect for an additional specified, limited period of time not to exceed six months; and 3) Declare that the documented conditions requiring implementation of the Main Beach Public Access Policy constitute a public nuisance. Thank you in advance for considering the views of the Chamber and our 600 members who promote economic vitality for our community. Casey Casey Beyer Chief Executive Officer Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce 725 Front Street, Suite 401 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 457-3713 www.santacruzchamber.org The link ed image cannot be d isplay ed. The file may hav e been mov ed, ren amed, or deleted. Verify that the link poin ts to the correct file and location. 2 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Gabrielle Korte Friday, September 06, 2019 5:05 PM City Council Support for beach curfew Dear Council, I am writing to show my support for the proposed beach curfew. We need to protect our coastline from the type of environmental degradation we saw at the Ross Camp. Thank you. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Gary Roe Friday, September 06, 2019 5:02 PM City Council Main Beach camping Hello City Council,    Please make the right decision and do you duty of helping keep Santa Cruz safe by enacting a curfew on City  beaches (and neighborhoods).  May I remind you of the horrors of Camp Ross ... rampant disease, crime and  DEATH. Please listen AGAIN to the pleading of our own Police Chief and enact safe, sane, compassionate and  accountable ordinances. Every sane person KNEW a Camp Main Beach and Camp Delaware can and will  happen in every corner of our city unless an updated, to comply with the Boise decision, 'No  Overnight  Camping Ban',  is implemented.    As a person with 25 years in active alcohol/drug recovery, volunteering with the homeless, and used to be part  of the problem, I daily  see open drug dealing in the Seabright and Beach parking lots and surrounding  neighborhoods between vehicles and the homeless on the beach. Many more stories on request. With the  tireless help of our Neighborhood Watch and the hard working Police we are keeping the neighborhood  somewhat manageable for now  but WE NEED MOE HELP with effective, accountable laws.    How much more crime, disease and death (7‐9 deaths related to Camp Ross  alone) do you need to happen to understand the horrific homeless situation that Chief Mills  explicitly  details???    "Chief Mills ‐ Balancing Act: Compassion and Accountability"    https://chiefmills.com/2019/05/07/massive‐clean‐up‐its‐a‐start/    Thank you for all you do in helping keep our city safe,    Gary Roe        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Erik Zinn Friday, September 06, 2019 5:02 PM City Council General Business 1. Main Beach � Public Access Policy (PR) Honorable Mayor and City Council: As a former resident of Santa Cruz and a current owner of a house in unincorporated Santa Cruz, I have reviewed the documentation for this agenda item, including the Agenda report. I am shocked that allowing camping on the Main Beach is even under consideration at this time for the following reasons: 1. This is an ad hoc transplant of the failed Gateway Camp experiment, only worse, because you will not be allowed to fence in the encampment (the California Coastal Commission is unlikely to allow for that to occur). All the issues that came with the failed Gateway Camp, including drug use, improperly disposed used needles, feces and garbage, will now be broadcast across the Main Beach. To compound that concept, anything disposed of by campers below that day's high tide line will be washed into the ocean. 2. I would challenge the "no fiscal" impact assessment. Did anyone consult with the Seaside Company on the impacts this policy might have on their operations? Do you really think that there won't be an increase in vandalism and disposal of refuse and needles at the Boardwalk? The Seaside Company will likely have to intensify security at the Boardwalk to combat the presumed increase in crime there. Additionally, I might add, the intangible impact of day time tourists having to dodge feces and discarded used needles is likely to impact long term tourist attendance to the Main Beach, which in turn will likely impact revenues and tax revenues from the Boardwalk operations. Why bite the hand that is giving a large chunk of tax revenues to your City? I haven't mentioned the impact this will have on the other businesses that line Beach Street and the Wharf. Did anyone ask for their input regarding this policy? 3. Will only homeless people be allowed to camp on the Main Beach at night? Will they be allowed to have drugs and alcohol in their tent? How will you enforce the no drugs and no alcohol laws for the Main Beach? Why are you excluding everyone else? If you open this up, why shouldn't groups of people and families be allowed to camp on the Main Beach for free and unencumbered by the laws on the books? Why not allow families that travel here from the Central Valley to escape the heat and enjoy the Boardwalk to camp out on the Beach. I am certain that many of them would enjoy doing so and would save a lot money in expensive hotel fees. Speaking of which, review item number two above. All I see the City doing in this instance is just wrapping up the problems that were clearly out of control at the every other encampment that has been allowed to occur and just redelivering it to a different locale. It hasn't worked. It won't work. Stop trying to pound a square peg through a round hole and figure out an altogether different solution. Don't destroy a coastal resource and tax revenues with this policy. Sincerely, Erik N. Zinn 112 Sage Hen Drive Lewistown, MT 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Marysarah Locatelli Friday, September 06, 2019 4:52 PM City Council Beach Camping Honorable Mayor & City Council, Sep 5, 2019 I am in full support of the proposed Beach restrictions written in Section 1. I see a very large problem happening before our eyes, it's the Ross encampment on our beloved Boardwalk Beach, Main Beach. This is how it starts! There needs to be a lifetime ban against camping on Santa Cruz beaches as it is a Hazmat situation. Already our beaches are littered with trash and Sharpes, we can't even walk down the beach without being afraid of stepping in feces or getting punctured by a needle. Our ocean loving Santa Cruz is going to let trash floating to the ocean? Please do not allow this! Already before this situation started there is a whole group of transients that hang right outside of Ideal fish and Under The Wharf and throughout Cowell's Beach area. For this reason my husband and I stopped eating it ideal fish, we are locals of a lifetime. I even recognized some of these people from high school, they are just complete drug addicts. They sit around and drink and do drugs and harass people, it's not right! One of my girlfriend since high school worked at Gilda's and lived close and was walking, right at the corner of ideal and the Main Street, she got clobbered by something, does not know what, she woke up in the hospital totally blacked out, did not see it coming. Just a random act of violence which we have been seeing in the county from drug addicts. The person I'm speaking of is a very quiet and sweet person who would never have any enemies oh, this is the second time she's been attacked by a transient, the first time was with her daughter in front of the library. It's killing me all these random acts of violence from drug addicts high on meth happening so often, caught on tape, Witnesses and practically nothing is being done about it. Our beloved camouflage owner who was murdered in front of her own store, the gal who is having lunch at zoccoli's hit in the head and put in the hospital for no reason, the lady walking down the street caught on camera being attacked on the Pacific Garden Mall. It's really time to clean up our town! There is no place in society that this open-air condoned drug use should be allowed. I'm going to attach something I saw online today of a person's experience eating at ideal fish that gives you an idea of what is happening. This must be stopped now! Please please, expediently! Let's have the Rangers clear it out, this cannot go on and is a danger to our community and children. Our town is being ruined, we must get this under control. Thank you for your time, Marysarah Locatelli 8314285802 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: David Kunis Friday, September 06, 2019 4:43 PM City Council Beach Curfew Hi elected officials, You had better do thr right thing and ban overnight camping on city owned beaches. If you  let a homeless encampment grow in the middle of our main tourist attraction there will be hell to pay.  Needles and human waste in the sand will drive out the tourist business that the city depends on. Time for  action is now and a lot of concerned tax paying citizens are watching for your response. Sincerely, David Kunis     1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: nancy maynard Friday, September 06, 2019 4:34 PM City Council; Martin Bernal No to over night camping on the main beach There is plenty of room up the coast Stop allowing this Nancy Maynard 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: A Webb Friday, September 06, 2019 4:26 PM City Council 9.10.19 Item #1 - Main Beach Public Access policy This proposal is puzzling, though clearly trying to stop illegal overnight camping and activities, while increasing access to 24 hours/day, rather than the current 7am-10pm use hours on Main Beach. This to meet Coastal Commission's Guidance Document for Beach Curfews to avoid further Coastal Commission/CEQA review. It essentially reduces nighttime patrol/enforcement windows from the current 9-hr window (10pm-7am), down to a 4 or 5 hr "nuisance" window (midnight-1 hr before sunrise, as it is on Cowell Beach) on the dry sand portion, if I'm reading this correctly. While this is jumping through regulatory hoops, which also takes valuable resources/time, I'm having difficulty seeing how this access to the wet sand 24 hrs/day which necessitates using the dry sand to reach, and of which shifts in and out with the tides twice every 24 hrs, will be enforced any differently than current curfew hours. Is there successful rule enforcement on Cowell Beach? Why not just stick with the current no camping or illegal activities rules and current curfews, and enforcing that with the 4-runner patrols (thought there are bird migrations and seal pupping season disruptions to consider, especially near the river mouth part of the beach)? Maybe access via the Boardwalk with 4-runners for easier vantage points? Some CA beaches don't allow tents on the beach at all (defined as having walls on all sides whether opened or not), but allow umbrellas or similar type shade/wind block items during hours of use. I found this link interesting reading: https://www.quora.com/What-does-California-law-say-about-illegal-camping and of course, the City's current Rules for use: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/parksbeaches-open-spaces/beaches-aquatics The next 6 months includes Fall & Winter months, in which our beaches naturally become less hospitable places to hang out overnight due to cold & storm exposure and high surf/tide changes to the beach, so how will that be factored into the "sunset period" assessment to determine success or not? Looking forward to hearing some further discussion about this. Thanks for all you do. Anita Webb 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: analicia lesnowicz Friday, September 06, 2019 4:14 PM City Council Main Beach and ALL beach for that matter City Council, Our marine sanctuary absolutely can not take on the trash and waste of campers on the beach. The idea of keeping and safe and clean camp area has not been possible in other areas. They have not proven to care for our environment. Please do everything you can to save our animal life. We have created this problem, not them. These beaches are absolutely not just belonging to the few. They belong to all of us human, fowl and sea. PASS THE ORDINANCE TO CURFEW OUR BEACHES. This should be enacted and expanded to ALL beaches connected to our city. Stop allowing this. Analicia 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Christine Labagh Friday, September 06, 2019 10:10 PM City Council; Martin Bernal; Martine Watkins Stop camping on our beaches Dear City Council Members, Please ban and enforce camping on all Santa Cruz beaches. It is both a public health risk and environmental disaster. It is unsanitary, unsafe, inhumane, and dangerous. I noticed the campers the first week in August. My child was in the junior guards program and we were at the beach every day. The campers had their tents, belongings, and garbage strewn about. They were loud and belligerent and it was scary for the children to have to walk past them to and from the beach. My friend took her 5 year old daughter to the restrooms at Cowells and there was a needle in the toilet. We also found orange caps from needles mixed in the seaweed on the water line. There was even a man camping on the platform where the bike racks are at Cowells. I had to find a police Officer and ask them to clear the man out, so the kids could park their bikes and go to Guards. The man moved, but only about 20 feet away. It was unsettling and uncomfortable for the junior guards. My family and I went to the beach on Monday and a man was staggering around in jeans and no shirt. He was covered in sand, stopped suddenly and collapsed. The lifeguard left the tower (on a very busy Labor Day holiday) to attend to this man. Then he got up and staggered off toward his tent. It is very frustrating and maddening to see this encampment growing by the day. The beaches are turning in Camp Ross 2.0 and that is a very dangerous and hazardous situation. This is unacceptable. The police need City Council’s support to protect our community and keep our beaches safe and clean and to enforce the laws. Camping on the beach, on the street, or in RV’s is NOT ok for anyone. Many of the campers need services that they are not getting. Allowing them to camp is not meeting anyone’s needs. It is enabling, not compassion. Please pass and enforce a no camping on the beach and beach curfew. Our community, especially our kids, deserve better. Sincerely, Christine Mantua 1 Sent from my iPad Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Andrea Muzzi Saturday, September 07, 2019 10:04 AM City Council YES on Beach Curfew Dear Mayor Watkins & Councilmembers,    I support a beach curfew to discourage illegal activity on the beach. I also support heavy enforcement of this  ordinance if enacted.     I have young children and currently only take them to Aptos beaches due to unsavory activities at the  Westside beaches (needles, feces, drug use & dirty bathrooms).     I realize most of the councilmembers do not have kids so you probably can’t relate to my concerns. Maybe you  should try babysitting some very young children and navigating a day out at our beaches amongst the illegal  activity. It would be very educational for you.     Thank you,  Andrea Muzzi         Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Andrea C Welles Saturday, September 07, 2019 9:46 AM City Council Main Beach Dear City Councilmembers, I understand you will be discussing the tent encampment on Main Beach on Sept 10. Please engage the City’s standard protocol for clearing illegal campsites. The situation gets worse by the day and threatens our marine sanctuary with human waste, trash and discarded hypodermic needles. This is beyond unacceptable for our beach and it’s only a matter of time before the tourism dollars go elsewhere. Thank for for attending to this as soon as possible. Andrea Welles 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Gary Garcia Saturday, September 07, 2019 9:38 AM City Council Please clean up main beach Please use the standard enforcement to clean up main beach. Main beach should not be allowed to become a homeless camp. Gary Garcia 642 Highland Ave Santa Cruz, CA 831 247 3478 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jeff Cracolice Saturday, September 07, 2019 9:27 AM City Council Main Beach Camping One of Santa's Cruz's greatest resources is being trashed. I am no longer allowing my kids to go to Main Beach or the Boardwalk. Regards, A concerned citizen and tax payer 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Donna Saturday, September 07, 2019 9:17 AM City Council Beach camping Please  I have lived here, raised my children. Who by the way can’t afford to live here But camping on the beach?  You can’t rule everyone, but  try and lead with authority and compassion.  I ask why is it the city will allow such conduct?  It’s not right for rules to be broken for a few‐ at every one else’s expense.  Should we all go camp? What would happen Please clean this up !  Donna Gallagher     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: anniemanako@gmail.com Saturday, September 07, 2019 9:01 AM City Council Main Beach Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,    Please implement and fully enforce a curfew at Main Beach immediately.   We have plenty of data showing unregulated and unsupervised camps are environmental disasters that  generate human waste, garbage, rodents, disease, discarded syringes, criminal activity and end up being a  costly public nuisance. Our city has worked very hard to improve water quality issues at Cowell’s at great cost.  To now sit idly by and watch an ever growing population of campers undo those efforts at Main Beach is  unacceptable. Do not conflate protecting the beach and Monterey Bay Sanctuary from environmental  destruction with a lack of housing or shelter.   Lack of housing should be discussed when developments are rejected by council because they don’t meet  unattainable expectations of inclusionary units or growth concerns. Allowing camps or RV parking throughout  our neighborhoods, parks or beaches is not a sustainable alternative to housing, it IS growth of the most  substandard and environmentally destructive kind. Stop trying to go it alone as a city when looking for ways to  help the unsheltered and start seriously engaging with our partners at County, State and Federal levels to  come up with real solutions to house/shelter people.  Sincerely,  Annie Manako    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Corrina Dilloughery Saturday, September 07, 2019 8:47 AM City Council Implement the curfew on Main Beach!! ASAP!! Dear City Council members of Santa Cruz, I am writing to URGE you to implement the curfew at Main Beach ASAP and stop the overnight campers. I am appalled that this is happening and that our law enforcement cannot enforce what should be enforced! Did you NOT learn anything about Camp Ross and what goes along with these tent campers? My son works in the SCJG program and saw an increase of needles on the beach this summer. He is not safe to run on our beaches in the morning with the crime, needles, and feces that goes along with the overnight campers. Needles will increase with these campers and tourists will be affected. Krohn and Glover should take responsibility when this happens. You've already run businesses out of town. This City Council is going down as the worst city council in history with welcoming drug addicts to our town and tying law enforcements hands. Glover cannot be recalled fast enough as well as Krohn. Implement the curfew. Stop embracing drug addicts. Sincerely, Corrina Dilloughery SC Lifelong resident. Tax Payer. Mother. Beach lover. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Carolyn IRISH Saturday, September 07, 2019 8:37 AM City Council Please clean up our Main beach! Dear Council members,    I urge you to clean up and enforce the main beach in Santa Cruz from the homeless tents that have popped up  and are ever increasing. This is showing preferential treatment for a few when others are banned from  camping on the beach. It’s a safety issue and health hazard for all.   Thank You,   Carolyn Irish   95062   831‐247‐3545  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Seanna Schantz Saturday, September 07, 2019 8:33 AM City Council Ban camping Council‐  I would like to express my families worry about the camping that is happening at main beach. I urge you guys  to shut that down ASAP. Why don’t you move them to camp grounds?? With the camping season coming to a  end I am sure there are many spaces open where camping should be. Please ban camping on our beaches and  streets!!!     Thank you‐  Seanna and Jon Schantz     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kathlene Ercoli Saturday, September 07, 2019 8:14 AM City Council Camping on the Beaches of Santa Cruz Dear Santa Cruz City Counsel,    It is beyond my understanding how the city can permit the homeless or for that matter, anyone, to camp out  on the main beach or any other beach in the city of Santa Cruz that does not have facilities or set up for  camping.    This is a blemish on our community.  Our business has been welcoming/serving tourists in Santa Cruz for over  100 years. We have a great deal of compassion for the homeless throughout our state but accommodations  must be made to address the issue without impacting the beauty of our shoreline and the livelihood of the city  and it’s businesses.  There must be a curfew and an established place for the homeless to access services.   Please address this issue before irreparable damage has been done to our tourism industry and our tax paying  residents and businesses.    Very Sincerely,    Kathlene Ercoli  Santa Cruz Surfside Apartments      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Chelsea Mele Saturday, September 07, 2019 7:33 AM City Council Main Beach Clearly with all the major news articles people are appalled with the idea of the main beach in Santa Cruz becoming a homeless camp. People are saying, is this city council going to simply let this grow till it becomes a crisis again or move now to stop it in its tracks? It is almost too late to curb the growing homeless camp on main beach as it is growing exponentially. The homeless have been testing the fortitude of the city to remove them and now is our last chance to stop this without a big fight. This is growing so fast that this is about the final chance we have to curb this before ti costs us thousands in legal fees. Do you jobs and protect our cities greatest asset! Chelsea Watson 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Anne Elliott Saturday, September 07, 2019 7:18 AM City Council; Martine Watkins Keep the beach clean and enforce NO CAMPING Dear Mayor and City Council,    I thought camping was allowed only in designated campsites with appropriate sanitation.  I see many tents on the beach. Does this mean anyone can camp on the beach now???  No overnight camping is posted.  Please enforce the ban on camping on beaches and remove violators.   Please keep our beaches safe and clean so the public can enjoy them and our marine sanctuary is preserved.    Thank you.  Anne Elliott      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Onawa Virostko Saturday, September 07, 2019 7:12 AM City Council Main beach curfew I support a main beach curfew. The safety of our kids and the boardwalk visitors not having to worry about  stepping on needles is very important!  Thank you  Onawa Virostko    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Karen Menehan Saturday, September 07, 2019 6:59 AM City Council I support a Main Beach curfew Our beaches aren’t the right spot for homeless encampments. I support a Main Beach curfew.       Karen Menehan  831.461.5124    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Michael Dilloughery Saturday, September 07, 2019 6:50 AM City Council No Camping on Main Beach Hello, No camping on Main Beach. Please enact a curfew immediately before this problem grows out of control. Part of me believes a couple of you want this bad situation to grow in support of your narrow minded agenda. Have we learned nothing from the Ross Camp? The people of Santa Cruz want our gate way to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary clean and kept clean. Clean it up. Enact and enforce a curfew. No camping. Thank you for your time, Mike Dilloughery 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Keith Henderson Saturday, September 07, 2019 6:34 AM City Council Main beach curfew Dear Members of S.C. City Council,    As a concerned citizen I ask:    Please install a curfew on main beach, both sides of the wharf.     Don’t let this become the next camp Ross.     Thank you,    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jennifer Bruckner Saturday, September 07, 2019 6:17 AM City Council No Camping On Our Beaches! I don’t understand why there is now inconsistent enforcement of the ‘no overnight camping’ rules on our beaches. Either everyone should be allowed to camp on our beaches, or no one. Please do not allow the overnight camping to continue. Jennifer Bruckner 720 Graham Hill Road Santa Cruz, CA 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rikki Bell Saturday, September 07, 2019 6:12 AM City Council SC MAIN BEACH CURFEW I completely support 10:00 curfew on all beaches in Santa Cruz.  I don’t understand why this is happening in the first  place.  Safety, etc. Live Oak Sheriffs Dept. does not allow anyone to sleep on the beach, why is this happening ? Please  stop this before it gets completely out of hand.  Regards    Rikki Bell  4693 Branciforte Drive  SC, CA 95065    Sent from Mail for Windows 10    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Eric Pederson Saturday, September 07, 2019 4:03 AM City Council Is a beach curfew compatible with Santa Cruz? Hi Honorable City Council people, Clearly we cannot cede our beaches to homeless encampments. That said, I do not think putting curfews into place is compatible with the lifestyle and ethos of salty Santa Cruz residents. Strolling the beaches at midnight, or 2 AM, under a full moon, is the type of ocean intimate thing people in Santa Cruz will do. We want access to the ocean and the beach 24/7/365 - we need it's freedom, and to know its freedom is there for us all the time, even when we are not taking midnight strolls on the sand. On the other hand, beach tents seem to mostly be an artifact of visitors - of people trying to stake a claim to the beach. Tents on the beach may generally be OK, but I do not believe they are part of our value system. If we don't want homeless people sleeping on our beaches, it would seem reasonable to ban tents, or maybe, more leniently, to ban tents after sunset. But lets avoid curfews - especially on the beach. Best regards, Eric Pederson Seabright ============ Eric Pederson 408-341-9606 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Cliff Bixler Friday, September 06, 2019 11:07 PM City Council Main beach curfew Please implement a curfew on the main beach. Allowing the main tourist attraction to be turned into a homeless encampment is fully. We have been here before with needles on the beach and visitors vowing to never return. Cliff Bixler 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Whitney Frey Saturday, September 07, 2019 10:24 AM City Council Beach Restrictions Dear Mayor and City Council, I am in full support of beach restrictions as described in sec. 1. We need to have camping restrictions especially on our beaches. Cowell's is already named one of the dirtiest beaches in California and having people living in that area will only increase the spread of disease. We have children from Santa Cruz and surrounding areas that should not have to be exposed to illicit activity while enjoying a day at the beach. Please consider a complete camping ban for our beaches. Thank you, Whitney Frey 424 Standord Ave 95062 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: kelseyedavidson@gmail.com Saturday, September 07, 2019 10:16 AM City Council Overnight Camping Ban on Main Beach Dear City Council, Please enforce an overnight camping ban on Main Beach in Santa Cruz. It is a danger to the health of our beaches and the safety of our tax-paying citizens. Thank you, Kelsey Davidson 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Michelle Coffman Saturday, September 07, 2019 4:44 PM City Council In favor of 10 PM curfew at Main Beach     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Millie Halpern Saturday, September 07, 2019 4:07 PM City Council Main Beach overnight camping To the city council, We live near Main Beach and want to see it stay a safe and beautiful beach adjoining the fun filled Boardwalk. We enjoy walking here, having our granddaughter attend beach camp from Parks and Rec, and bringing friends from out of town to enjoy what we enjoy year around. If you continue to ignore people violating the rules and camping overnight at Main Beach it will quickly degenerate to an unsafe and uncomfortable state, something like Ross Camp. Have enough year-around indoor emergency shelter so that you can accommodate people who are homeless and need a place to rest at night. Then enforce the no camping on the beach or on the sidewalk rules. Sure, people would rather sleep on a beautiful beach with no rules and their drugs and dogs along side them. Well, i would rather walk on a clean beach without needles, dog poop, etc. Millie Halpern 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: judy warner Saturday, September 07, 2019 4:05 PM City Council Yes, curfew Main Beach, Agenda 9-10-19 - Vote yes on proposed curfew for Main Beach. - Keep the beach clean. - Don't promote substandard growth by allowing camping and parking anywhere in the area. - Tackle growth issues directly and housing problems and associated issues on a regional and state basis. We cannot do this alone. Thank you for an often thankless service, one that is appreciated by your constituents more than you may ever know. Keep going, and please resolve issues and differences together. judy warner westside santa cruz 831 425-1168 warnerjudy100@gmail.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Linda Burroughs Saturday, September 07, 2019 4:00 PM City Council FW: beach campers Dear Council Members,   I sent an email to Chief Mills to find out why the police aren’t doing anything to remove the illegal campers on the  beach. He sent the following message to me:    Hi Linda,     There currently is not a law prohibiting camping on the beach or anywhere else in the city. The law was struck down by  Council in response to the 9th Circuit Courts decision in Martin vs Boise.     So, SCPD is left with issuing citations for a host of other thinks other than camping which we have been doing. I too do  not want to see a homeless group on the beach. Next Tuesday we bring an ordinance to Council to create a beach curfew  that is enforceable. It would be a good time to let Council know how you feel about that.     Best     Andy   Sent from my iPhone    It is reprehensible that this has happened and that camping is allowed anywhere in the city, including on our precious  beaches. Please do whatever you can to try to reverse this unfortunate decision or to support the curfew that Chief Mills  is bringing to Council. We love our city and our beaches and don’t want another Ross Camp popping up in our home  town.    Linda Burroughs A Concerned Taxpaying Resident  831-818-0218 cell   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Heidi Kozlowski Saturday, September 07, 2019 3:25 PM City Council No camping on our beaches! Our beaches are no place for overnight tent camping. Please put an end to this immediately before her situation grows out of control like what happened at Ross Camp. Unlike Ross Camp, we can't set up portable toilets all over the beach. We also cannot hand out needles. Nor can we raze the entire beach after everyone is forced the leave. This is not safe for people visiting our beaches nor is it safe for our coast. Heidi Kozlowski 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kate Coburn Saturday, September 07, 2019 3:23 PM City Council Homelessness Pleeeeeez, use "your approved standard operating procedure to remove a camp on Main Beach. This protocol can be followed, and is consistent with the Boise vs. Martin decision. Enforcing a camping ban on Main Beach is also consistent with the Coastal Commission laws providing for coastal access.” Signed, A 44-year resident. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Scott Camp Saturday, September 07, 2019 3:10 PM City Council Camping on Main Beach Please ban camping on Main Beach. If you choose to allow our beaches become another Ross Camp we will  remember when you are up for re‐election.    Please take care of our community and the people who pay your salaries and elected you to office. Thanks.     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Julie Kimball Saturday, September 07, 2019 2:57 PM City Council Keep our beaches clean I advocate for no camping on the beaches. Keep the beaches safe and clean for humans and sea life.  Julie Kimball   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: marci clow Saturday, September 07, 2019 2:48 PM City Council Craig Clow Main Beach Camping Dear City Council: You wouldn't be part of the city council if you didn't love our city and community. I can't imagine that any one of you would like to see any portion of our beaches become polluted and unsafe. Please do everything in your power to enforce the no camping laws that already exist at Main Beach. Guaranteed that many of the same inhabitants that are making their way to the beach, were part of trashing the Ross encampment. As tax paying citizens of the community we have never been allowed to camp on beaches, and I can guarantee if we were allowed to do so we wouldn't leave our trash, needles, feces, etc. as evidence to our CRIME and to be cleaned up at the expense of our city. You have the power to keep our community and those who visit our beautiful beaches safe, stop being naive and don't let things get out of hand like it did at Ross camp, duh. Letting people camp on our beaches is not the solution to the cities homeless problem and won't help these people get back on their feet. Not sure what the solution is, but we elected you to city council so figure it out. Respectfully, Marci Clow 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Laurie Brixner Saturday, September 07, 2019 1:40 PM City Council Main beach camping I for one am absolutely astounded that these camps have been left alone! Our beaches and sanctuary bay have always been a priority! To let homeless campers live the lifestyle they do with drug use, needles, feces, urine, trash, fires etc.. is a slap in the face for our public safe land use for all! Please remove them! Laurie Brixner Sent from Laurie’s iPhone 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lisa Soon Saturday, September 07, 2019 1:11 PM City Council Main Beach Camping Ban Dear Santa Cruz City Council,  Please enact a no camping ban or curfew to stop people from camping overnight at Main Beach.  Sincerely,  Lisa Soon  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Brigitte Thomas Saturday, September 07, 2019 1:07 PM City Council Beach camping Hello,    I am in full support of the proposed beach restrictions in section 1.     The beach is no place for drug paraphernalia and human waste. This is terrible and should be banned for life.     I work hard to live here and this is destroying our natural beauty.     Respectfully,  Brigitte Thomas        Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Judi Saturday, September 07, 2019 12:48 PM City Council Sept 10 Evening Agenda Item #1 Dear Mayor and Council:   Please keep a curfew on our beaches to disallow the setting up of campsites.  It is a  public health and safety hazard.  I fear that if a few tents are allowed, many more will locate there and we will  have another situation to "clean up" at the city's expense (i.e; tax‐payer's expense).  Not good for residents,  not good for visitors to our community.  Please continue to work with the county to locate COUNTY areas  suitable for transitional supervised housing and services that are located away from neighborhoods and  schools.   Thank you.    Judi Grunstra    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: christy martin Saturday, September 07, 2019 12:30 PM City Council Please protect our beaches and provide access to all Hello, I am writing request that the council please declare the Main Beach camps a public nuisance and prevent camping. The growing encampments on Main Beach are an unacceptable abuse of public resources. The Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary belongs to the public and the City of Santa Cruz has a responsibility to protect this natural resource and ensure equal access. The current situation is allowing a very small number of people to diminish the experience for all. As we have seen time and time again, these unmanaged encampments generate litter and bio hazards and make public spaces unusable by the community. I moved to the lower Westside neighborhood so that I could walk on the beach and enjoy the natural beauty each morning…something I am no longer able to do. This is also our main tourist destination generating city revenue and local jobs. I was very concerned about a KPIX news report saying "Ludmilla D’Souza, visiting from San Bruno, didn’t even notice the tents because they tend to blend in with the crowd. She said one of the nearby occupants was rude and began shouting at her, making her feel unsafe. The experience gave her pause about returning for another visit." While the homeless crisis is a major challenge requiring creative solutions in collaboration with the County, it is my understanding that there are shelter beds available that are not being utilized. The Council is responsible for protecting the city’s economy and quality of life for the entire community and its visitors. Thank you for your consideration, Christy Martin 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: David Green Baskin Saturday, September 07, 2019 12:00 PM City Council Support for Curfew At Main Beach Please follow the staff recommendation and institute a curfew at the Main Beach.    The overnight camping presents an unreasonable risk to health and safety.  It is only a matter of time until someone is  injured by human waste, needles, etc., that will be a hidden hazard in the sand.    Thank You,    David and Cyn Baskin  Santa Cruz Residents since 1974  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Swisher Saturday, September 07, 2019 11:23 AM City Council Clean beaches   City council members,  I respectfully ask that you to vote to remove camping from the beaches It will impact the environment,  tourism, and the beauty and residents of Santa cruz.  The river walk way has turned into a toilet.  It was one a beautiful place to walk.  Our sidewalks are filled with  drug addicted individuals.  Please restore our town to the tranquility and spender it once was.  Respectfully, Mk Swisher      Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: ALLEN GENETTI Saturday, September 07, 2019 11:20 AM City Council Main Santa Cruz beach campers I have been going to Santa Cruz for 53 years and have never witnessed people camping on the beaches. If this continues Santa Cruz will lose tourists and critical sales tax dollars which will make it harder for Santa Cruz to balance the city’s budget. There is also the safety issue of needles and other waste on the beach which will deter tourists further and possible open the city up for legal lawsuits if anyone is infected. A very sad state of affairs I would hope the city acts quickly before its too late. Allen Genetti, CPA -Allen Genetti 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Piper McGeehan Saturday, September 07, 2019 10:37 AM City Council Main Beach Camping I have emailed both the City Council and the Coastal Commission on this issue months ago. I did not get a  response. We overlook main beach. Over the past year the campers have increasingly multiplied. Their camps  are large and I can see them using drugs and drinking on the beach. There are no bathroom facilities near the  river. Some of these campers have been there for weeks and one particular camper has been there over a  year. I hope you will seriously consider this increasingly bad situation. Last Tuesday I counted 28 tents from  the pier to the river.    Thank you,  Piper McGeehan    Sent from Piper's iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lynn - Saturday, September 07, 2019 10:37 AM City Council Enforce curfew and prevent camping on Main Beach Today people experiencing homelessness are camped on Main Beach for days on end. Use your Council approved standard operating procedure to stop camping on Main Beach. Remember, the Council approved this SOP in April before clearing the Ross Camp. We fought hard for the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. The Parks Director has already found trash, needles, illegal activity and human waste by the water. Please support the City staff and Chief Mills and follow their recommendations for a curfew on Main Beach. The Federal Agency on Homelessness warns cities against sanctioned homeless camps. It finds these camps expensive, hard to manage, and difficult to close. Are homeless camps in this years budget? Or only in the 6 month priorities? How is the cost being forecast? If you would like to learn about the best practices in the nation, check their website. https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Caution_Sanctioned_Encampments_Safe_Zones_052318.p df 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Eddy O'Connor Saturday, September 07, 2019 10:26 AM City Council Andrew Mills Main Beach encampments.... City Council, Please use whatever means necessary to remove the main beach encampments. Do NOT let this go any further. The city needs to send a clear and forceful message that these illegal encampments will not be allowed or tolerated. This permissive attitude is why the transient community refers to Santa Cruz as "SANTA CLAUS COUNTY". Respectfully, Eddy O'Connor Santa Cruz, CA. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: heather hutchison Saturday, September 07, 2019 5:18 PM City Council Main beach I am writing to say that I support the 10 pm curfew at Main Beach in Santa Cruz which many area beaches  already have in place. Please support this proposal to keep our beaches beautiful!     Heather Hutchison  2627 Mattison Lane, #11  Santa Cruz, CA  95062    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Cliff Bixler Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:45 AM editorial@santacruzsentinel.com Recall Krohn and Glover Tuesday night the Council will decide whether to tolerate and enable Ross Camp 2.0 on the main beach by the Boardwalk. In any same city this would never be tolerated. It is so bad for tourism, neighborhoods & businesses. Last time this was going on the main Beach was littered with needles. Visitors were swearing they would never return to Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz United is out in our community collecting signatures for the recall. We need 20 % of the registered voters, far more than the 14% Glover squeaked onto office with. Cliff Bixler 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Debi Michel Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:40 AM City Council main beach campng I am a native of Santa Cruz. My family came to Sc in the early 1920's from Luca Italy. My parents built a house  on Trevethan in 1946 and  I've owned my home on Morrissey for 42 years.    I am a small business owner who purchases a business license and pays sales tax every year for the past eight  years.    I purchase Boardwalk season passes every year for my nieces who visit often from Modesto. My family is very  aware of the current homeless "housing" situation on the Main Beach. Because they are concerned about the  safety of their young daughters, they no longer visit and will not until the situation is resolved. The city of SC is  losing revenue from their visits, from loss of hotel, eating, and other entertainment costs.    As a native, if I pitched a tent on any beach in SC I would be ticketed/arrested. If I laid a blanket out on the  sidewalks of Pacific Garden and sold my wares, I would be ticketed/arrested. If I was under the influence of  drugs in public, I would be ticketed/arrested. If I defecated in public, I would be ticketed/arrested. If I stole  personal property I would be arrested.    Hmmmm, it sure seems like being homeless in SC has plenty more advantages than being a law abiding, tax  paying, native resident.  Free ocean front property vs house payments, property taxes, and living among an  undesirable population? It's a no brainer‐ I should become homeless in SC! The movie, Field of Dreams had a  classic line which applies to our city: "If you build it, they will come"    The city council needs to remember who keeps this city afloat. It's certainly NOT the homeless!     Figure it out or get voted out! The move for district elections will certainly change the composition of our city  council. Bleeding heart, socialist UCSC students will no longer be able to change the climate of our city by  voting in their own kind.    On a positive note, at least the council is holding up the truth of the bumper stickers seen around town‐keep  Santa Cruz weird...    deborah michel        Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Robin Clawson Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:04 AM City Council Please don't ruin our beaches, ocean and incoming tourism dollars Dear City Council, I would like for you to consider the ban on camping on the beaches of California and display your ability to work as a team to finally fix our drug and homeless problem in Santa Cruz. I am disappointed that our city representatives lack collaboration and the ability to execute any programs properly for the entire population of the City of Santa Cruz. Please stop using our tax dollars to research the same subject over and over again and move to actually do something. What we are doing now is only hurting the homeless population as the drugs and dealers are taking over and we are not doing anything about it. I have 20 people coming from out of town for the Bites and Brews Festival at the Boardwalk on September 28, but I feel a need to cancel this event because of the urine/feces and needles on the main beach. I am supposed to do the Santa Cruz triathlon coming up but am choosing to cancel because I don't want to swim in feces. I think all the athletes feel the same way. All because we are catering to people that are choosing to not use the resources that we have in Santa Cruz. Not fair. Thank you for your consideration to take action and do the right thing and doing it quickly. No more talking/discussion and please work as a team take action. Thanks, Robin Clawson 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Nancy RADER Sunday, September 08, 2019 9:45 AM City Council City beaches   Please support a curfew!! Our beaches cannot become another Ross Camp!! Santa Cruz needs to address this  issue. We need to be more like Carmel. They don’t allow sleeping in their city.   There has to be a solution.   Also stop giving out needles. It isn’t working!!    Nancy Rader  Owner of a building on Pacific Ave.   resident of the County.     Sent from my iPhone      Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Amanda Pfeffermann Sunday, September 08, 2019 9:34 AM City Council Beach camping Hello, Please call for enforcement of the no camping ban on all Santa Cruz beaches. Allowing camping on our beaches invites the same environment that developed at the "Ross Camp”: large amounts of trash, hypodermic needles, human excrement, propane tanks, and more. These things pose an even greater health risk to our community and bay when on the beach. How many children need to step on used needles or in piles of human feces at the beach before something is done about this? Thank you, Concerned long-time citizen 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Hallie Richmond Sunday, September 08, 2019 9:21 AM City Council Yes on Main Beach Curfew/No on Camping Dear Mayor and City Council Members,     We are a fourth generation family of farmers from Santa Cruz. We are raising our families here, we work here,  and we shop here. We use the beaches and the parks, and we gladly pay our taxes and vote. Please do not  allow overnight camping on main beach. There is no bathroom for night time use, and as we saw with Ross  camp, a few tents quickly become many, and the pollution these campers generate simply cannot be ignored.   To have that level of garbage and human waste flow in to the Monterey Bay marine sanctuary would be  terrible. The beach needs to be a clean and safe environment for all, not just a few. Please enact and enforce a  nighttime beach curfew.   Thank you,   The Fambrini Family   Brian, Hallie, Raymond, & Zelma    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: John Magliato Sunday, September 08, 2019 9:04 AM City Council Main Beach Camp Hello,  Homeless camping at Main Beach is a problem. I understand the need to provide an area for homeless to  camp, but it should be a city approved area. To continue to allow more and more campers will lead to the  mess we witnessed at the Ross Camp, and thus lead to thousands of tax payer dollars for clean up. The  philosophy that city approved lots must be near the city is ridiculous and doesn’t account for people who  actually pay taxes. There are plenty of lots within city limits that can be contained with porta‐potties and  needle disposal boxes that will not interfere with our day to day and tourist operations. The homeless garden  land near Natural Bridges comes to mind as a viable site.     Please follow the law and stop camping on Main Beach.    Sincerely,  John Magliato      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sarah Giesenhagen Sunday, September 08, 2019 8:55 AM City Council clean beach support Hello, My husband and I are residents that live a block from Seabright beach. The homeless camping there overnight has been an increasing issue. We have noticed it has become nightly that groups of homeless people are camping there and last winter it increased even more. We live next to a park right next the entry to the beach so we see them walk in and walk out nightly then in the morning. They also sleep in the park in the wooded area. This park is right behind the Natural History Museum. I have seen where groups of kids are having a field trip or event on the park lawn in the mornings and groups of homeless people are sleeping nearby and walking through. It is an unsettling sight we see daily to some degree. Each day we find litter from them along the sidewalks. Bottles of urine, feces, trash that has been stolen and rifled through etc... We see things like two naked homeless people coming out from between two homes across the street where they slept and fornicated...if we were to have children this would be a hard area to explain to say the least. We are planning to move because of it. We would consider holding out like I know a lot of community members do, and accept the situation but I have been directly affected by homeless people before. I was attacked by a wandering offender (with multiple criminal offenses on his record) once that I had to fight off in a public park. I was also just followed back to our house by a man with bags and backpacks in the park we live by this summer after a run. Hence the disappointment and general feelings that this is not a safe, small, casual, beach and University community which I would like to think it is. At least nowhere near downtown, main beach or Seabright beach. We have to obsessively lock our doors every night and shut the windows on the ground level or it seems to be pretty much guaranteed that someone (likely walking down to the beach at night when it is illegal or coming up in the morning after sleeping down there) will try to enter and steal anything they can. We have both had our vehicles entered and anything of value (and not of value like mail keys...) each time we forgot to lock them. This happened 2x for me and 2x for my husband. The only times we didn't lock them. We watch car campers sleep nightly and frequently every night outside our windows. This is a weird place. Something needs to be done for the homeless and rules need enforced *consistently* on the beaches. The beach closes at 10 per the posted sign and the only time I have seen this enforced with gusto was high school graduation and the 4th of July. Every night people are breaking this law and they know they can get away with it. This is disappointing, the people that had the rules enforced upon them mentioned above are mostly kids. Citizens that are in school, likely having part time jobs and mostly on their way to leading lives that contribute to society. And they are the ones that get 7+ cops walking down each street trying to search them out. These kids likely have less offenses on others than the men that we see heading to the beach nightly or even camping outside our homes in the cars. I appreciated seeing rules actually enforced, and appreciate that some of these groups were likely breaking laws and to the extent that they could cause harm to themselves or others with things like drunk driving. However, I was disappointed and sickened as well. Where is the consistency? The laws are to be abided by everyone, that is the deal. How is it ok to come down hardest on those that are contributing to society and hopefully on their way to college like the high school graduates. Are those the individuals we need to scare the most? That is the impression I got by watching both of those examples happen. And the homeless people that break laws potentially daily are ignored. 1 I understand there is a large group of homeless camping nightly on the main beach, around the corner from where we can see at Seabright. I know it is only a matter of time before they move over here to Seabright beach. My predictions are that in the winter there are large encampments on both beaches at this rate. And the citizens that live nearby like us that contribute to society by obeying the laws, working full time since we were out of school and before that even will feel increasingly uncomfortable in our homes, out walking the dog, going on a jog, when our husbands are away for work trips etc... and then we will move. It's unfortunate. The good parts of these neighborhoods and beaches are so exceptionally good. At what point do we say enough? Both us (by leaving or trying to get laws enforced) or the city council and police to help fix the largest "elephant in the room" problem this city has. Sincerely, 2 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ganzler, Maisie Sunday, September 08, 2019 8:20 AM City Council Main Beach  Dear City Council,  Please support a curfew on the Main Beach. The curfew on the Cowell side has been successful at stemming  the number of needles and other items found that are harmful to people, marine wildlife and the water  quality of the Bay. The beach is not the place people experiencing homelessness should be camping. The  marine ecosystem is too sensitive to handle the challenge of people sleeping on the beach. I also question the  wisdom of allowing camping not only for people experiencing homelessness, but for the population in general.  Why should people who can afford a hotel room while visiting Santa Cruz feel compelled to take on this  expense when they can sleep for free on the beach?  For people experiencing homelessness, this is not a good solution. It sustains people in a bad situation as  opposed to people seeking services and assistance. People experiencing homelessness need housing, not a  plot of sand on a beach that was never intended to accommodate camping.  Outside media agencies are also reporting that camping is allowed on our Main Beach. This is not good for the  tourist industry that employs thousands of people and generates revenue for the city of Santa Cruz. That  revenue supports city services, including funds for homeless services and for our city's youth.  Please show concern for the environment, people experiencing homelessness, our tourist industry and our city  budget by supporting the curfew.  Best Regards,  Maisie Ganzler          This email is subject to certain disclaimers, which may be reviewed via the following link.  http://www.compass‐usa.com/disclaimer/    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Michelle Overbeck Sunday, September 08, 2019 8:14 AM City Council Camping on Beach Unacceptable & Unsafe Just say no! No camping on the beach. It’s unsafe and unsanitary.    Please put egos and agendas aside and stand up for the public health and safety of our community.     Remember the saying “safety first”? Now is the time to act on it.     Michelle Webb        Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Straley Sunday, September 08, 2019 8:12 AM City Council Main Beach Dear City Council of Santa Cruz, I'm writing to you in support of a proposed curfew on Main Beach. In addition, I do not support squatters living on our beaches. As a city resident and taxpayer, I'm disheartened to see your lack of urgency for our growing crisis. I've now lived in Santa Cruz for over 25 years. I've continued to support our City Leadership over these years. As a resident, I've not felt safe for the past several years to go downtown or walk freely among our city streets. Now I no longer feel safe about going to the beach due to fear of needle exposure or being assaulted by a homeless person. I use to enjoy going to dinner, ocean swimming and running down by the beach. I was proud to live here and be a part of our community. I've now had several incidents over the past few months which has made me questioned your ability to lead. The bottom line is I don't feel safe, I no longer have friends come to visit me in Santa Cruz and feel so disappointed in our City Leadership. Please take care of those who support the city financially and are good citizens. Please do your job and focus on our safety. Warm Regards, Mary Straley 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ernest Castillo Sunday, September 08, 2019 8:09 AM City Council homeless Get them off the beach!  Send them home. SC is not, and should not be, the Mecca for the  bums for the USA.  Stop the madness.  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sheila Carrillo Sunday, September 08, 2019 7:45 AM City Council seek humane solution for main beach Does the council acknowledge the relationship between closing Ross camp instead of cleaning it up and  managing it to the homeless all over our streets and now the main beach? How can this be solved in a humane  way while we still have no adequate lodging program for our homeless? This is your challenge.    Sheila  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Deborah Christie Sunday, September 08, 2019 7:14 AM City Council Please make our beaches clean, friendly, drug free. And a more important please.......find shelter for those sleeping on the beach. And services. They don't belong on the beach, camping out. I support Andy Mills proposal; The document attached to your next agenda. Their behavior and presence is a public nuisance. Deborah Christie 136 South Park Way Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Edie Abendschan Sunday, September 08, 2019 6:50 AM City Council Honorable City Council Members, Honorable City Council Members,  What happens in Santa Cruz affects us all over the county.  Please do not allow camping on the beach. Not only will it drive business away from the whole county even  further, but it is outrageously detrimental to our beautiful environment. Where is the Coastal Commission?  What hypocrisy says it is ok to leave drugs and needles near the water? What happened to the Monterey Bay  being a marine sanctuary? Isn’t this federally protected land? Beach accessibility does not mean that it’s ok to  destroy It!  I am afraid to go to SC at all, and I miss the restaurants, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Seymour Center, the Sanctuary  Exploration Center, and the other beautiful amenities.  We could have such a wonderful community, but with the drugs, the trash, the out of control people, the lack  of law enforcement, and the like, it is no longer a desirable place to be.  Edie Abendschan  La Selva Beach      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Manager Saturday, September 07, 2019 8:34 PM City Council; Martine Watkins NO CAMPING ON BEACH beach sign.JPG Dear Mayor and Council, The Main Beach has many signs prohibiting camping on the beach. Why is this not enforced????Public safety is at risk from these campers. They appear to be high on drugs, they appear to be ill, they are filthy and rude. They are not the sort of people that families want their children around. They are a risk to public safety and the cleanliness of our beach/bay. PLEASE enforce the law. The city has a responsibility to uphold the law and keep the beach and surrounding area clean and safe for the public. Thank you. Anne Manager Surfside Apartments scsurfside.com 831.423.5302 Join us on Facebook 1 BEACHES CLEAN. Pteaae Pl? IN TRASH CANS. A PLAY I'l' SAFE. STRONG CURRENTS EXTREME HEAT POWERFUL WAVES CHANGING CONDITIONS NET No Gloss No Div n9 No Motor Vehicles No Boon No Fires No Alcohol No Smoking No Dogs 0r Pels .1 No No Baseball No Limmng Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Susan Sweeney Saturday, September 07, 2019 7:18 PM City Council Camping on beach   please stop the camping on our public beach.This is not right and you know it !so do the right thing enforce a  camping ban and a curfew.  Look at the environmental impact and the lost revenue because tourist don’t want to be sharing the beach  with drug addicts! this is not a homeless issue this is a drug issue!!    Susan Sweeney people   Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mia Begin Saturday, September 07, 2019 7:14 PM City Council I support Enforcement of beach curfews   Dear City Council Members,    Please enforce Santa Cruz’ camping ban on all our beaches and keep them clean for everyone! I support the  current curfew laws for ALL.     Enforce the laws that are in place so we can all use the beaches and not give special privileges to the homeless  and druggies.    Thank you,  Mia Begin  Taxpayer, voter, ocean swimmer, beach trash picker upper, etc...      Sent from   Mia        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: sjcsmom@yahoo.com Saturday, September 07, 2019 6:20 PM City Council Camping on Main Beach Good Afternoon, I am writing today as a request from our family to end the overnight camping on main beach. I feel that this is a very poor representation of our city, and it does affect our tourism. I have over heard several visitors walking on the wharf mention that the tents were an eyesore, and that they did not feel comfortable going down to the beach any more. We are personally affronted as a law abiding citizens, that we cannot legally camp on main beach; However, it seems as though a person who is "domestic domicile challenged" is not required to follow the law. If I were to behave as these persons do, I would receive a citation, be told to move on immediately, and have to pay a fine. But there are no legal consequences for these who have no regard for the law. Double standards against honest law abiding citizens are really beginning to fray our nerves. Also, please note that excrement and needles are disgusting to encounter under the wharf. These items often found along with all of the other trash that that these campers are discarding improperly cause horrible consequences for endangered animals that live in the waters directly off of the beach, including Harbor Seals, Southern Sea Otters, California Sea Lions, and many types of protected Shore Birds. Protect what you love. We would like to have our city council members step up and protect our beaches, and our Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Thank you for your consideration, Beth Darr Rick Darr Chris DeMore 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lee Taiz Saturday, September 07, 2019 5:29 PM City Council Camping Camping must not be allowed on the beach. There are no resources for living there. Efforts to recreate another Gateway Plaza crisis never end, but these efforts can be stopped before a crisis develops. Lee Taiz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: 1010 Saturday, September 07, 2019 5:01 PM City Council Please enforce camping ban Hello Council,    A strong vote from me to enforce llaws prohibiting camping on public property and beaches. Let’s stop  catering to drifters who aim to take advantage of the laissez‐faire approach to law enforcement in Santa Cruz.  Sincerely,  Anita Gunwald        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Shawna Glynn Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:47 AM City Council Main Beach I don’t even know what to say as to the dysfunction we see everyday,  24/7, in the City of Santa Cruz. We all  know the drug addicted, mentally ill and unhoused community has grown to mass proportions and continues  to negatively impact our public places with no hope in sight. No hope for families. No hope for businesses. No  hope for the housed. And no hope for unhoused. Just a lot of dysfunction, finger pointing and failed attempts  to figure out what to do and inevitably what not to do.     I understand why overnight camping on the beach is now a thing. Our city  has mismanaged its way to this  point. It has allowed an influx of unhoused to descend on Santa Cruz, has ignored laws and ordinances, and  when faced with decisions on how to manage, has come up with options unpopular to the community...  unpopular with those of us housed and unhoused and completely lacking in effectiveness and creativity. No  real solutions. The city has unintentionally allowed the unhoused population to swell but has zero  capabilities/solutions of what to do about it. Gravel parking lots, muddy dirt patches, bridges, doorways,  parks, sidewalks, gutters, and now tourist destinations are what we get.     I am currently housed. I could just as easily find myself unhoused. If it happens, I will pop a tent at Main Beach.  Why the hell would I want to pop a tent in a gravel parking lot or dirty downtown sidewalk? Much more  pleasant  to shit in the salt water than along a building already smelling of urine. Much more private to dig a  hole in the sand then squatting on a sidewalk as people drive by.     Do I want to see people camping on the beach? No. I do not. Am I surprised? No. I am not. We need  competent leadership and solutions that provide dignity for all. Not an easy task, I understand. But what the  city is currently  doing/not doing isn’t working. Not even a little.     Shawna  Santa Cruz        Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Samantha Olden Monday, September 09, 2019 12:14 AM City Council; Martin Bernal; Andrew Mills Sept 10th meeting - Agenda Item 1. Main Beach - Public Access Policy Dear City Council Members, Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach. It would be prudent to impose this curfew on all of our City beaches so that encampments don't start popping up on Seabright Beach, Natural Bridges, the Wilder Beaches, etc. Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law-abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to start supporting public safety measures. You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti-social, destructive and obscene behavior. Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires. Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp. Please give our law enforcement officers and rangers some tools to prevent this. If you don't, you will likely be inviting some very expensive lawsuits and pretty much guarantee that at least 2 of you will be recalled in the very near future. Sincerely, Samantha Olden Email Me Visit My Website Visit My Facebook 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Terry Spodick Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:52 PM City Council Beaches Allowing camping on our beaches is a disgrace! Beaches are for everyone, and I don’t feel safe going there now. Do not allow these homeless camps to go wherever they want. This makes our beaches dangerous and unsanitary not to mention what it will do to our major tourist industry. Do the right thing, and think of the greater good for the greater population who elected you! Terry and Jerry Spodick -Terry Spodick santacruzpenlady@gmail.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: karen miller Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:46 PM City Council Beach Camping!! You give out tickets to dog owners if they are on the main beach walking!!! Why do you let people camp on the Main Beach when it is not allowed? Especially when there is Drugs, Needles, Feces, and Trash left on the Beach. I Do Not feel Safe taking a walk at night on the Main Beach like I use to. Please do something about it!!!!!!@ Sincerely, Karen Adachi 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: geewhit@earthlink.net Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:28 PM City Council No Camping On Beaches Please I am an owner of 3 addresses in Santa Cruz. A recent drive on the wharf was an experience in eye pollution  when I saw all the tents on the main beach. This is an affront to those of us who have any sensibility about  what does and doesn't work in Santa Cruz. Outdoor camping like that in full view and knowing that unhealtful  and illegal activity is happening in these tents, should not be tolerated.    A no vote is the only vote to protect the locals from an invitation to more and more individuals to infill our  public spaces.    Regards,    Gary Whitney    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: grant miller Sunday, September 08, 2019 10:26 PM City Council Beach Camping I am outraged the beach camping on the Main Beach has not been cited. You do not allow Dogs on the Main Beach and No Camping. I do not walk the beach at night anymore in fear of those camping and shooting up, needles, drugs, alcohol, and trash. Thank You, Grant Miller 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: contessa Sunday, September 08, 2019 6:19 PM City Council camping on main beach I`m asking the Santa Cruz city council to vote against illegal camping on the beaches . It is not good for the Monterey bay marine sanctuary with human waste, trash, needles . It could turn into a Ross camp before you know it. It hurts the tourist industry , and local business surrounding the beach. Last fall I walked the area and was approached by drunken -drug people as early as 8 in the morning. That is not a safe feeling. The people of Santa Cruz ask to return the beaches want clean ,safe beaches for your families, Thank you , Cheryl LaMorte 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Stacy Kim Sunday, September 08, 2019 6:06 PM City Council Main Beach – Public Access Policy (PR) Hello,   I understand that this agenda item will be addressed at the Sept 10 meeting.  Unfortunately I cannot attend,  but I would like to provide my input strongly supporting a Public Access Policy like this one that seeks to deter  homeless encampments on Main Beach.  Like so many others I have noticed over the past several months a  large increase in the number of homeless putting up ragged tents and other semi‐permanent structures on  Main Beach, and sleeping in them.  These are eyesores that surely discourage tourists and visitors from  enjoying our beautiful beaches; I know they certainly discourage me.  Even more disturbing is the sight of  these homeless people emerging from their shelters in the middle of the day, to urinate and defecate on the  sand.  I can’t imagine what they are thinking ‐  there are public toilets nearby and yet for some reason these  people choose a disgusting option that endangers the health of the rest of us.  There are many other  dangerous and illegal activities that come with the increased homeless presence, but I will just mention one  more, and that is the verbal abuse and physical intimidation that these homeless people shower on everyone  within shouting range.  I have seen and experienced profanity, threats and aggressive behavior towards  people who simply happen be in the general area.  It’s terrifying and drives both locals and visitors away.  I  think this is unacceptable and I am very glad that this new policy has been proposed.  I only hope that it will be  enforced stringently and will succeed in its aim to reduce the homeless presence on Santa Cruz beaches, and  allow tourists and residents to enjoy what we love about Santa Cruz.  Thank you for your attention.  Best Regards, Stacy Kim  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Carol Polhamus Sunday, September 08, 2019 5:41 PM City Council Enforce the Beach Curfew   Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,    For our 65,000 residents, our main beach is a community treasure, used by little guards to adults, swimmers,  volleyball players, beach soccer players, surfers, dog walkers, joggers, beach goers.  Our beach is also along  the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.  It is an important tourist destination generating much needed revenue.   The main beach is the most inappropriate place to permit a homeless encampment for so many reasons.      Allowing camping in residential neighborhoods, city parks or beaches is not a sustainable alternative to  housing, and leads to the most substandard, unsafe and environmentally destructive “solution”, one that is  detrimental to both the residents of the camp and the residents of the neighborhood.      Stop trying to go it alone as a city when looking for ways to help the unsheltered and start seriously engaging  with our partners at County, State and Federal levels to come up with real solutions to shelter people in  permanent, sustainable structures where people can receive needed services.  To be successful this must  happen with the input, financial support, and collaboration of the county, and must include the county’s  mental health and substance abuse treatment resources.      I support the enforcement of a curfew at Main Beach.  Please do not allow the main beach to become an  unregulated campground, which will only lead to garbage, rodents, discarded syringes for beachgoers to step  on, and end up being a costly public nuisance.  Allowing this just kicks the can down the road, once again, and  will only lead to more precious funding being flushed down the toilet on another inevitable cleanup instead of  coming up with a safe, sustainable, cost effective solution.  We already saw what happened at the Gateway  Camp, let’s not do it again.       Thank you for listening.    Carol Polhamus           Sent from my iPad.  Please excuse spelling mistakes and brevity.  Thanks!    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Janet Allinger Sunday, September 08, 2019 4:35 PM City Council Homeless   Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,    Please enact a beach curfew on all city beaches for no overnight camping!!!    The beach will turn into another Ross Camp nightmare!  You really want that? Not us!    Are you trying to scare away all the tourists?  As a resident of over 20 years in this town, I’m disappointed in  how things are going in our town.  Downtown looks like garbage, walking over by Natural Bridges, I see  homeless dumping their junk, human waste, motor oil on the street and in the park.  Their are homeless  camping in Emma McCreary with all their garbage lying around.  Disgusting!!!!       Westside resident, Allingers  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Michael Becker Sunday, September 08, 2019 4:31 PM City Council Closing Main Beach at night Dear Mayor and Councilmembers, Please close main beach during nighttime hours. Attached is a photograph of the sign posted on Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos. Every night State Park Rangers drive up and down the beach at 10pm telling people that the beach is closed and they have to leave. It has been this way for many, many years. If this is right for the state then it should be right for the city. Please vote to establish a nightly beach curfew. Thank you Michael Becker 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tonia Martinez Sunday, September 08, 2019 4:20 PM City Council Camping on the veach Hello City Council, Please enforce a no camping ban on our beaches in Santa Cruz. We live in a town that is supported by tourism. To have homeless people living on our beaches is totally ridiculous. If I spent a year saving up to take my family on vacation and drove to the beach in Santa Cruz, I would be outraged. It’s bad enough that our tourists end up renting hotel rooms in the damn ghetto ( Beach Flats). Then to expose them, as well as the rest of the population that frequents our beaches to the blight of homeless people taking up residence is unthinkable. I implore you to take emery measures and enforce a ban on camping immediately! Thank you in advance for your prompt response. Tonia Manners. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ashley Scontriano Sunday, September 08, 2019 3:03 PM City Council Beach Curfew Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,    Please enact a beach curfew on all city beaches for no overnight camping.     I’m shocked that the posted state hours of sunrise to sunset can’t be enforced. I’m shocked the coastal  commission won’t enforce a camping ban due to concerns that human waste is a threat to the marine  sanctuary. I’m shocked dogs owned by the homeless are allowed but a housed person walking their dog will  be given a ticket because dogs aren’t allowed on main beach.     I’m continually stunned how certain laws aren’t enforced equally.     Enforce all the laws equally or don’t enforce them at all. It’s the only correct thing to do.     Lastly, homelessness is the financial responsibility of the county. Stop trying to tackle the homeless problem  on the backs of city residents. The board of supervisors have been dropping the ball for far too long. Stop  making their job easier and imposing huge impacts on city neighborhoods.     The county needs to solve this problem with state funds. Homelessness is perpetuated by the county piece  milling efforts to fund one off problems. That model doesn’t work! A navigation center with all the resources  in one location is the only way to help people in need. Build this center where there is land and separation  from neighborhoods and businesses. Help those in need but remember to consider the needs of those paying  for said services via taxes.     Thank you,  Common Sense Ashley   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: corko Sunday, September 08, 2019 2:52 PM City Council beach camping. As a native Santa Cruzan for 76 years , I have seen the good and bad c.c.. but this one is the worst, it seems  that 3‐4 of you are for your self and not the best thing for the city as a whole. please get your act together by  getting the homeless or who ever is camping on the beach. no overnight camping at all. until this is done there  should be police going to the tents to see if there are alcohol or drugs . that would stop some of them for  camping.     Thank you, E.B. Panelli  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: K. Wagnaar Sunday, September 08, 2019 2:24 PM City Council Curfew on all city beaches for no overnight camping Dear Mayor and Councilmembers, Please enact a beach curfew on all city beaches for no overnight camping. I’m shocked that the posted state hours of sunrise to sunset can’t be enforced. I’m shocked the coastal commission can’t enforce a camping ban due to human waste posing a threat to the marine sanctuary. I’m shocked dogs owned by the homeless are allowed but a housed person walking their dog will be given a ticket because dogs aren’t allowed on main beach. I’m continually stunned how certain laws aren’t enforced equally. Enforce all the laws equally or don’t enforce them at all. It’s the only correct thing to do. I lived here for 35 years and it hasn’t been that bad in all those years. What happened to your authority? What happened to enforcing the law? As it stands right now there are two different levels of how the law is enforced. There is one level for the homeless and another for the residents. As much as I love the area and the weather – we are looking to move away. Shame on you city council for you are unable to protect this beautiful place. Respectfully A very disappointed resident Ingrid W.     1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Charlotte Sometimes Sunday, September 08, 2019 2:19 PM City Council NO CAMPING MAIN BEACH Really?! Listen to the complaints. No! Just because tourist season is over doesn’t make this okay. Quit shuffling the camps around and quit enabling drug use! Clean this city up! Why is SC the Mecca for drug abusers and RV camping? Enough! Regards, K O’Malley Westside 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Eric Rowland Sunday, September 08, 2019 2:00 PM City Council Main beach camping I'm astonished and dismayed (to say the least) to see that Main Beach has turned into an open air campground. I urge you all to do whatever in your power to return the beach to its traditional state and prohibit camping on Main Beach, as it is prohibited on every other beach in California. Regards, Eric Rowland Seabright 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Candice McLaren Sunday, September 08, 2019 1:26 PM City Council I'm against camping on the main beach Hello Members of the Santa Cruz City Council,    I am against letting people camp on the main beaches of Santa Cruz.  We should not be exposing Visitors and our Locals  who walk our beaches  with bare feet to  sands  contaminated with garbage, needles and broken bottles. We live on the  Monterey Bay Sanctuary and it our responsibility to protect it, including our beaches.    Many of the people camping in our city don’t have the mental capacity to pick up after themselves. Just look at the  sidewalks around Coral Street. There are trash bins all over and yet garage is everywhere, spilling out into the  streets.   How much time and money does the City spend cleaning up just that one area?    I personally don’t want to pay for another clean up and our number one tourist area is not the place to camp.    Please do not allow camping on our beaches.  Sincerely,  Candice McLaren  Santa Cruz Resident and tax payer  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: TOM VLASSIS Sunday, September 08, 2019 12:13 PM City Council Camping   City Council,    What is going on in this City that my family has called home for four generations? It just keeps getting worse  and worse, with the laws we have on the books not being enforced.  Not only do we have to tolerate the free for all in our neighborhoods, now we have to see our lovely beaches  trashed by tents.  I would have thought that you learned your lesson after the fiasco at Camp Ross.  Please, please do something about the state of our town.....   Do whatever it takes to enforce  the camping ordinance in the City of Santa Cruz.  Since it is not being enforced we have more and more Recreational vehicles in our neighborhoods, more trash,  more transients (you have heard it all before).  These people are not going anywhere, even if you find a  permanent place for them......this is the life most of them want to live.  It seems apparent that we have no rights or quality of life in this town anymore, it  is as if you are saying  “shut  up and live with it and pay for It”.    Regards    Judith Vlassis    Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Rebecca Hughes Sunday, September 08, 2019 11:13 AM City Council Becky Hughes Curfew Main Beach It is our understanding that you are considering a resolution to implement a curfew for Main Beach to stop  overnight campers.    As long time (41 years) residents of Santa Cruz County, we have been privileged to raise our family here,  enjoying the beaches, and know that our kids were in a safe environment.  We want our grandchildren and  future generations to have the same experience.    Please support the city staff’s recommendation for implementing the curfew on the Main Beach.    Regards,  Bob and Becky Hughes  577 Manzanita Avenue  Felton, Ca., 95018  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rebecca Nolan Sunday, September 08, 2019 11:03 AM City Council Camping on Main Beach Hello, I have been walking on Main Beach in the morning 2-4 times a week for the past 25 years with few exceptions. I am very concerned about the camping that is now going on there. It has gotten worse every day. I would like to see an end to it. I know these folks need a place to live, and I, like so many others, have no answer to that sad and complicated situation. The beaches are a public place, but camping on them? Let's consider the possibility that families from all over Santa Cruz decide to camp on our beaches. Let’s just all take our tents and gear and go! It’s free, it’s close. We all know that it would be a nightmare, but who’s to stop it? The precedent has been set. It has concerned me for years that the public restroom facilities all over the City are unbelievably limited. I will never understand this in any City. The beach of course is no exception, particularly Cowell’s and Main Beach where so many people go every day. Where does everyone think these campers are going to relieve themselves every morning, every day, every night? Do you know that some of them have dogs in their tents? I saw a woman the other morning coming out of a tent with two dogs on leashes (good for her)…where do you think the dogs are relieving themselves? Good guess. There is a large fine on Main Beach and Cowell’s Beach for having dogs on it. Is anyone enforcing this? I read in an interview in the Sentinel recently that one of the woman who lives on Main Beach stated that people move their tents so that the tractors can clean the beach beneath them. From my experience watching this daily clean up, this is simply not true. Check with the City or whoever pays for this service. They go around all of the tents. The tents are not moved when the tractor shows up. Maybe she moves hers, but she would be the exception from what I have seen. I’ve always loved our beautiful beaches. I’ve felt safe on them, even alone in the morning. I think twice about walking to the cliff end of Main Beach now. I am not a person who dislikes change. I usually embrace it. But not this. Give the beaches back to the public for their enjoyment and health. There’s a reason the law to disallow camping was put into place in the first place. So that ALL of us could enjoy our beaches. Let’s get back on course. Thank you, Rebecca Nolan 107 Manor Place SC 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Terri V Monday, September 09, 2019 7:59 AM City Council Main Beach To all council members,    The main beach needs to be free of all night camping.    It is important to keep it clean and safe for everyone’s enjoyment.    The city of Santa Cruz needs revenue.  The main beach and boardwalk are a huge source of revenue.  The seaside company has worked hard to keep the Boardwalk safe and clean.    How crazy is it for a community that is so concerned about plastic use and taking care of the environment, to  allow our main beach to be littered with needles & feces.    Please act mediately to clear our beaches.    Steve and Terri Vomvolakis   432 Grant St.        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Barbara Avona Monday, September 09, 2019 10:37 AM City Council Main Beach Camping Dear Mayor and Council members, I cannot believe that the citizens of Santa Cruz actually have to send letters and emails regarding this situation as it should be a given that there is no overnight camping on the beach. There are already laws in place and they should be applied equally to any person - Santa Cruz resident, tourist or homeless. Please, for the sake of public safety and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, enforce the existing curfews. Thank you, Barbara Avona 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Emily White Monday, September 09, 2019 10:25 AM City Council Please Approve the Main Beach – Public Access Policy (PR) Hello City Council Members, As a resident of Santa Cruz for the past 13 years, homeowner and especially as an expecting mother, I am imploring you to please approve the Main Beach - Public Access Policy tomorrow afternoon in your meeting. While I have empathy for those that are housing challenged in Santa Cruz, our public beaches are not the place for them to set up camp. Not only does the current situation propose a serious health risk to individuals and families who also use the beach, due to the pervasive littering of hypodermic needles, glass and other trash, but it directly harms the fragile ecosystem in our bay. Please remember the devastating effects of the Gateway Camp to the land and the extensive hazmat cleanup that was required upon closing. We cannot afford to have that on our beaches and in our waterways. My husband, in-laws and myself are avid users of Cowell's beach and the adjacent bay and hope to raise our child to have a deep love and appreciation as well. Please don't deprive the wildlife of a safe and clean space to live nor our citizens of the right to a safe clean beach to use. Thank you for your time, Emily White 149 Beachview Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Brendon Monday, September 09, 2019 10:11 AM City Council Vote No on Beach Camping Dear Council Members, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE DOWN OPEN BEACH CAMPING. Prove to your community that you truly care about it. Prove that you work to protect our environment and its resources. Removing the camping ban on our main beach would be a disastrous decision. You already know that! Please do the right thing. Sincerely, Brendon Baer Sent from my iPad 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: PAT/BRENDEN baer Monday, September 09, 2019 10:08 AM City Council VOTE NO ON OPEN CAMPING Dear Council Members, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE DOWN OPEN BEACH CAMPING. Prove to your community that you truly care about it. Prove that you work to protect our environment and its resources. Removing the camping ban on our main beach would be a disastrous decision. You already know that! Please do the right thing. Sincerely, Pat Baer 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Vicki Berlin Monday, September 09, 2019 10:02 AM City Council Open camping on main beach PLEASE do not allow open camping on Main Beach. There are plenty of other places for people to Camp. Please . 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kevin Vogel Monday, September 09, 2019 10:01 AM City Council Public Comment Re: General Business Item #1, Main Beach Public Access Policy Dear Mayor and Council: I am writing regarding the Main Beach Public Access policy that Council will be considering on Tuesday evening. I urge Council to implement a policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach only during the hours of one hour before sunrise until midnight. Once again, history repeats itself. In 2013 when I was the Santa Cruz Police Chief, similar problems were occurring on nearby Cowell Beach. At that time, the curfew was unanimously approved by Council. Council approval was driven by illicit behavior on the beach, including drug use and sales, illegal camping, discarded needles and the accumulation of human waste. There was an epidemic of trash and drug paraphernalia, often found on the shoreline where the City Parks and Recreation Department hosts the Junior Lifeguard Program during the summer months. In my capacity as Chief of Police, I spoke in front of Council in support of the curfew and I said Cowell Beach had been hijacked by illegal activities, which police department staff were having difficulty preventing despite increased patrols and improved lighting in the area. Several members of the public told the Council they refused to take their children to Cowell Beach because of the health hazards they often encountered. One parent of a 5-year old told the Council she would love to sign her daughter up for junior guards the following summer when she was 6, but said she wouldn't. From my perspective and experience as Chief, the 2013 curfew significantly decreased the volume of illegal activity that was occurring on Cowell Beach during the hours the curfew was, and still is, in effect. Six years later, the City is experiencing the same illegal activity and compromised public health and safety conditions on Main Beach that it experienced on Cowell Beach in 2013. Enacting a curfew on Main Beach will undoubtedly curb the illegal activity that is occurring on Main Beach and make the beach a safe and enjoyable place for the entire community to enjoy again. I urge you to approve the curfew. Respectfully, Kevin Vogel 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Hesketh Monday, September 09, 2019 9:53 AM City Council Main Beach Access Dear City Council Members Please fight to preserve Main Beach as a safe, family-friendly area for all of Santa Cruz. Doing this means not allowing camping on the beach, drug use, defecating and urinating on the beach, etc. Those activities, and others like them, are incompatible with the vast majority of Santa Cruzans being able to safely and securely use the beach. Stepping on needles or in human waste is incompatible with residents’ use of this beach. Please preserve this beach for residents (and tourists, too!) by permanently disallowing camping and drug use. Thank you, Mary Hesketh 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Debra Wallace on behalf of Debra Wallace Monday, September 09, 2019 9:52 AM City Council Support for City Staff Recommendations for Camping Restrictions on Main Beach Dear Mayor Watkins & Council Members,  Please support the City staff recommendations to impose camping restrictions on Main  Beach. Camping on any of our City's beaches should not be permitted.  While seeking solutions for the homeless crisis in Santa Cruz, I hope that you also protect the  health and safety of the entire Santa Cruz community.  Thank you, Debra Wallace Santa Cruz, CA 95062 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kaia Cornell Monday, September 09, 2019 9:51 AM City Council Support of curfew Dear City Council Members,    Please register my support of a curfew to stem the influx of tent camping on beaches.  My understanding is that there  are shelter beds available, so I do not see how public camping falls underneath the recent court rulings.  We need a  comprehensive policy that deals with criminal addict behavior using a rehab/work first policy, along with mental health  services.  Helping those that truly want it (and will do what it takes to improve their lives i.e. following rules) vs throwing  all our resources into those that do not (want to follow rules/go into rehab, etc.) is the root problem.    Sincerely,    Kaia Cornell.  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: myra ritchey Monday, September 09, 2019 9:48 AM City Council Close down main beach homeless camp To City Council Members,    I strongly urge you to vote to shut down the homeless encampment on main beach. It is absolutely a public  health issue, a detriment to tourism, and a public safety concern. It is unbelievable that it has even been  allowed to grow as large as it is, considering that there are shelters for these campers that they are refusing to  use. The beach should be closed to everyone after 10 pm.    Regards,  Myra Ritchey   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Robert Norse Monday, September 09, 2019 9:47 AM HUFF yahoo groups City Council; Martin Bernal; Tony Elliot; Susie O'Hara No Curfew Without Due Consideration: Stop Martin Bernal's Rush to Close the Main Beach at Night Stop the “Hide the Poor” Beach Curfew Open San Lorenzo & City Bathrooms at Night ReOpen the Louden (London) Nelson Bathrooms!        No one, including 1000-2000 homeless folks, have actual bathroom facilities for nighttime use (except for 3 wretched portapotties downtown)   Santa Cruz City Council debated then ducked the issue of reopening the Louden Nelson bathrooms & passed it to the CACH (Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness). The LN bathrooms were closed to all but “patrons” in March 2018.  The CACH, run by Assistant City Manager Susie O’Hara, ignored the issue,   CACH met at LN & scheduled months of future meetings there, a slap at homeless.   At Drew Glover’s regular agenda meeting 9-6, neither he nor Councilmember Krohn took action to require the reopening by agreeing to require a future agenda item on 9-10.  Police Chief Mills, Parks and Rec boss Elliot, and City Manager Bernal are rushing to Council Tuesday (7:30 PM 9-10) to shut down the Main Beach & continue bathroom closure there at night. Their staff report includes no documentation for this closure.   Conscience and Action, Food Not Bombs, HUFF, the California Homeless Union, and Give a Shit! volunteers directly opened Louden Nelson bathrooms recently in direct actions that they intend to repeat until the city’s potty pinchers get the message.    Sign Up For DIRECT ACTION ALERTS to restore public access. No Curfew Without Consideration Santa Cruz City Council Chambers Tuesday September 10 7:30 PM    Police Chief Mills, Parks and Rec boss Elliot, and City Manager Bernal want to shut down the Main Beach and continue bathroom closure there at night.   As with last spring’s Depot Park plan, there has been no community outreach.   The proposal supports the agenda of right-wing activist Lynn Renshaw whose letter in the Sunday Sentinel seemed to indicate advance knowledge of the proposal.  1       The Mills/Elliot Bernal staff report has zero specific documentation for this closure.   No hearing before the Parks and Recreation Commission—the normal procedure.  No hearing before the new homeless CACH Commission.  Vice-Mayor Justin Cummings is a fan of the CACH Commission and “more data” (i.e. staff, city, and county buy-in) when it comes to transitional encampments, bathroom closure, and police harassment of homeless. On this homeless removal issue to be fair and consistent, he must vote to postpone unless and until data are available.  E-Mail jcummings@cityofsantacruz.com citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com  Be up for Direct Action to Counter Bernal’s Agenda in the days ahead    Flier by Norse of  HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831‐423‐4833   www.huffsantacruz.org     9‐9‐19 To download the flyer go to  https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2019/09/09/indybay_flyer_of_curfew _on_beach.pdf  2 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Elena N. Cohen Monday, September 09, 2019 9:33 AM City Council Support for City Staff Recommendations for Camping Restrictions on the Main Beach (September 10 City Council Meeting) Dear Members of the City Council, I am emailing you now to support the City staff recommendations to impose camping restrictions on the Main Beach. I hope that the City Council members continue to try to find solutions for the homeless crisis in Santa Cruz, but that they do so while protecting the health and safety of the entire Santa Cruz community, consistent with legal requirements. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Elena N. Cohen Santa Cruz, CA 95060 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jeff Eby Monday, September 09, 2019 9:29 AM City Council Main Beach I am in favor of the Main Beach Public Access Policy resolution as stated here: http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=39728 We cannot let our beaches become another Camp Ross. The drug use, defecation, urination, drug needles, etc. would destroy a critical part of Santa Cruz beach environment. This, and the associated criminal activity, would affect the citizens and visitors of our city. This needs to be addressed now before substantial damage is done. Jeff Eby Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Catharina Lindley Monday, September 09, 2019 9:28 AM City Council main beach curfew Dear Santa Cruz City Council, I am writing to support the night-time curfew for main beach. It is a shame that this has to go into effect, but in light of the homeless encampment growing again, it seems to be absolutely urgent. I do remember being mortified when the kids could not enjoy Cowell's beach because of the constant worry about syringes lying around. Best, Catharina Lindley 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kim Keane Monday, September 09, 2019 9:25 AM City Council Please Approve Curfew on Main Beach   Dear City Council Members,    Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary  measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach.       At what point do we discourage people from thinking Santa Cruz is a free for all. No rules, nothing enforced,  the Wild West basically. We need to stop allowing people to do whatever they want, at the expense of the city  and the tax paying citizens.     Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come  here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our  green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, trash and illegal campfires.      Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp.  Please give our law enforcement officers  and rangers some tools to prevent this.   Start sending the message that if you want to live with out rules find  somewhere else to do it, Santa Cruz is over being taken advantage of.     Sincerely,   Kim Keane     1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Teresa Mendoza Monday, September 09, 2019 9:24 AM City Council no camping on city beaches Dear Santa Cruz City Council: I am writing in opposition to the current homeless camping allowed on Public beaches. This is not ok with me in anyway, shape or form. It is unsafe for the general public, it is against Coastal Commission rules. What are you thinking? Teresa Mendoza, REALTOR/Broker Associate Sereno Group Real Estate 720 Front St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 DRE # 00969697 vm text : 831.239.5252 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mimi Trenholme Monday, September 09, 2019 9:21 AM City Council Ban Needed for Beach Camping Enforcement of the curfew on Santa Cruz beaches must be prioritized. We cannot afford another situation  such as the Ross Camp, especially on our beautiful public beaches which are world‐renowned attractions.  Public safety is greatly endangered when beaches are used as dumps/bathrooms/drug dens. Thank you for  your attention to this.    Mimi Trenholme  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: orangeprincess618@yahoo.com Monday, September 09, 2019 9:19 AM City Council Main Beach Dear City Council Members,    Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary  measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach. It would be prudent to impose this curfew on all of our  City beaches so that encampments don't start popping up on Seabright Beach, Natural Bridges, the Wilder  Beaches, etc.    Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law‐abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to  start supporting public safety measures. You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to  become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti‐social, destructive and obscene behavior.   Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come  here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our  green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires.     Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp. Please give our law enforcement officers and  rangers some tools to prevent this.    Sincerely,     Teresa Dettle  Director at Thirty‐One Gifts  (831) 535‐9948  www.mythirtyone.com/tdettle    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Pam Brown Monday, September 09, 2019 8:50 AM City Council Main Beach Curfew Please approve the staff proposed curfew at Main Beach.  As a beach volleyball player, I play on this beach 4  times a week, and I have seen feces, glass, needles, you name it, often times in the middle of the court and  partially buried. This is not only an aesthetic issue, but more importantly a safety issue.  I have also witnessed  bad behavior including one guy wandering out of his tent only to sit with his hand down his pants  masturbating to the teen girl in a bikini playing ball with her dad.  Another guy set his tent up on Court 14 and  used the net as a drying hanger.  Court 2 smells so bad (urine) that it is virtually unplayable.  I feel for Parks  staff that has to clean up after many of the “bad apple” campers.  At the same time, I have encountered  respectful campers, but Main Beach is not the appropriate place for prolonged living quarters.  Please direct  the campers to available shelter space.    Regards  Pamela Blanc Brown    Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sarah Grayson Monday, September 09, 2019 8:49 AM City Council Main Beach Curfew  Dear City Council Members,    Please protect our beaches and public at large, by voting to approve this temporary measure restricting  overnight camping on Main Beach.   I support this curfew on all of our City beaches so that encampments  don't start popping up on Seabright Beach, Natural Bridges, the Wilder Beaches, etc.    Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law‐abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to  start supporting public safety measures.   You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to  become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti‐social, destructive and obscene behavior.       Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come  here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our  green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires.      Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp.  Please give our law enforcement officers  and rangers some tools to prevent this.   If you don't, you will likely be inviting some very expensive lawsuits  and pretty much guarantee that at least 2 of you will be recalled in the very near future.       Sincerely,   Sarah Grayson          1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Anne Scholz Monday, September 09, 2019 8:44 AM City Council Main Beach curfew Agenda item City Council, You MUST employ a curfew at Main Beach and ALL other beaches to prohibit camping. These beaches are part of the Federally protected Monterey Bay. You will be negligent in infecting the Bay with human waste and NEEDLES if you continue to allow these overnight camps to exist. Ross Camp clean-up results have PROVEN that these camps ARE drug infested. You are risking BOTH the environment AND PUBLIC HEALTH if you do not restrict O/N beach access. Sincerely, Anne Scholz 129 Stoneybrook Way Santa Cruz, CA 95060 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Annette Allen Monday, September 09, 2019 8:44 AM City Council Main Beach Another yes vote over here for a curfew on Main Beach! We cannot allow one of our most beautiful treasures become a Ross Camp. -- ANNETTE ALLEN, REALTOR CELL 831.227.5822 FAX 831.426.5176 AA@ANNETTEALLENREALTOR..COM CAL.BRE# 01764484 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kim Kim Monday, September 09, 2019 10:45 AM City Council Main Beach Camping Dear Mayor and City council members,    Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary  measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach. It would be prudent to impose this curfew on all of our  City beaches so that encampments don't start popping up on Seabright Beach, Natural Bridges, the Wilder  Beaches, etc.    Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law‐abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to  start supporting public safety measures. You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to  become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti‐social, destructive and obscene behavior.     Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come  here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our  green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires.   Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp. Please give our law enforcement officers and  rangers some tools to prevent this. If you don't, you will likely be inviting some very expensive lawsuits and  pretty much guarantee that at least 2 of you will be recalled in the very near future.     Sincerely,     Kim Salisbury   City of SC resident      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: JANIS CROMPTON Monday, September 09, 2019 3:03 PM City Council Santa Cruz Main Beach To Whom It May Concern: I am a life-long resident of Santa Cruz, and have always enjoyed this area, its natural beauty, which, of course, includes many beautiful beaches. As a child/teenager, I could go to the Main beach with a friend and spend the day there swimming, sunbathing or visit the boardwalk. Times have changed, of course, and we are no longer living in, what was known as a "safe small town community". We have already lost our downtown area to the homeless. I notice many businesses folding, filth, drugs, people begging and laying along the streets, many suffering from mental illness, some that become hostile or violent. Perhaps those in authority are planning to clean up the downtown area and relocate the homeless to the beach? That is NOT an answer to the problem. It does not take much knowledge of Santa Cruz, and its history, to know how much we depend upon tourism for revenue. One sure way to scare off tourists that flock to the beach and boardwalk would be to have homeless encampments all over Main Beach, with people doing IV drugs, panhandling, urinating and defecating all over the area, along with incidents of probable violence. And I, like many other taxpaying residents living here, do feel that I am entitled to enjoy our beaches and be safe in doing so. The homeless community in Santa Cruz is truly a terrible problem that we must deal with; however allowing them to live on our beaches is a very bad plan. Strong consideration should be given to relocating them out of the most populated areas, yet still somehow provide whatever necessary resources that they are entitled to. No doubt there are reasons, but why is this such a prevalent problem in Santa Cruz, not Capitola, Aptos, or even Watsonville?? Why is it that more and more homeless people seem to flock to Santa Cruz? Is it because of the many free resources that they seem to be entitled to? It must be that. Soon we, as residents here, will not be able to safely go and enjoy the beach, nor will our children or grandchildren. The homeless encampment that was set up along River Street was a poor plan; however allowing this at the Main Beach in Santa Cruz is an even worse plan, by far. I do feel badly for the homeless and know how fortunate I am to be able to live in Santa Cruz, and not be homeless, but please, please reconsider where you will allow them to set up camp. The safety of our community is at stake. Janis L. Crompton 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: sharon rittenhouse Monday, September 09, 2019 2:57 PM City Council Homeless Camp Dear Sirs:     I urge you to put a stop to the beach homeless camping to preserve the health and safety of our beaches.  Never have the homeless taken over the rights of the working class of our city more then in this latest  aggressive behavior.    As a citizen of Santa Cruz for over 40 years I have never known the City to allow the squandering of its most  valuable possession in such an abhorrent manner.    The homeless camp is taking precedence over the people who have lived and worked and paid taxes here. For  our own city council to take our beaches away from us and our children is deplorable.    The laws of disallowing overnight camping on the beaches for anyone have been in place for years for a  reason. Public health of all of our citizens  must be a priority.    Please vote to end this blight on the city of Santa Cruz.    Thank You,    Sharon Rittenhouse  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rebecca Hull Monday, September 09, 2019 2:50 PM City Council Main Beach homeless encampments Dear City Council,  I was born and raised in Santa Cruz and now live in the Seabright neighborhood with my husband and children.  My children attend Parks & Recreation Beach Camp at Main Beach every summer. I am writing to strongly  urge the council to do something to remove the homeless camps on Main Beach and Cowell's Beach. I  understand the homeless problem is a significant burden on Santa Cruz and there is an ongoing problem of  finding a place to "house" the homeless. But, our beaches are what makes this town special, they are what  bring in revenue and they are the reason many of us choose to live here despite the incredibly high cost of  living. Please do not let our beaches become places where homeless encampments are allowed. It is  unacceptable.   Thank you,  Rebecca Hull  (831)331‐3478  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jim Reichmuth Monday, September 09, 2019 2:29 PM City Council Please Remove Camp on Main Beach Dear Council Members: As a long time City resident and tax payer I urge you to please use City approved standard operating procedure to remove the camp on Main Beach. The beach is for all to use some of the time, not for some to use all or most of the time. Sincerely, Jim Reichmuth 408.234.1321 reichmuthjd@gmail.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Eaton, Matt Monday, September 09, 2019 2:26 PM City Council vane.eaton@gmail.com General Business Item #1 Dear Mayor and Council:    I am writing regarding the Main Beach Public Access policy that Council will consider on Tuesday.  I urge Council to  implement a policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach only during the hours of one  hour before sunrise until midnight.      I urge you to approve the curfew.    Please start cleaning this city up and enforcing laws already codified. No camping, no trespassing, no drug use, no public  intoxication, etc., before more damage is done by the bums taking over our beloved city. Other nearby cities can do it;  why can’t Santa Cruz seem to get it? How many more businesses need to be shuttered downtown before this council  realizes that tolerating vagrants and their associated crimes is doing a huge disservice to the city and the future  generations who hope to call this place home.     As a local business owner and parent raising their children in the city, I am blown away by the utter lack of enforcement  that occurs on a daily basis. Do any of the members of council actually go downtown, to main beach or spend any time  along Delaware Ave (on the far west side)? All of these areas listed are business corridors and when transients are  allowed to get their way without any real repercussions, more are sure to follow (as has been the trend over the past  several years). It is unbelievable that the city cannot see that its precious tax revenue stream from sales & use taxes are  taking a hit because of this overly‐tolerant attitude towards the homeless.     Main Beach is a huge attraction (& asset) to our city. Don’t let the homeless ruin this as they are trying & succeeding  downtown.     Enacting a curfew on Main Beach will curb the illegal activity that is occurring on Main Beach and make it a safe and  enjoyable place for the entire community to enjoy again.     Thank you.    Matt      Matthew W. Eaton, JD  Palisade Builders, Inc.   Campbell, CA & Santa Cruz, CA  408.429.7700‐P  408.429.7701‐F  CA BL DRE #01918249        This communication, including attachments, is for the exclusive use of addressee and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged information.  If you are not  the intended recipient, any use, copying, disclosure, dissemination or distribution is strictly prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender  immediately by return email and delete this communication and destroy all copies.  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Chelsea Brunetti Monday, September 09, 2019 2:18 PM City Council Main Beach Camp Importance: High To Whom It Concerns,     I am sending this message to address the camping on Main Beach in Santa Cruz. I am a local resident, born here and  recently moved back from North County, San Diego. I was walking with my husband from Jack O’Neils restaurant to the  Boardwalk on 9/7/2019. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary. After a lovely meal, the momentum was quickly  lost as we walked past the tents along Main Beach in front of Ideal. A man urinated on the side of the car. I grew up  doing Jr Guards on this beach and it’s the site my husband proposed. I am in disbelief at what is going on here. PLEASE  ACT on this issue. We are people who worked very hard to come back here and buy a home to be close to our families  and it’s highly concerning to consider what we are paying to live in this beautiful area, QUICKLY being destroyed by  addicts, homeless and mentally ill that the CITY is not taking accountability for. It is BEYOND discouraging and makes me  wonder‐‐‐do I really want to start my own family here???     Take a note from the Encinitas, CA area. They are a little town similar to ours with a fraction of the crime. I never saw  homeless or needles or sketchy vans parked overnight at my place of work. NO tents on the beach!!!  WHAT IS THEIR  CITY COUNCIL DOING THAT OURS IS NOT????     Best,     Chelsea Brunetti     Chelsea Brunetti  Director  Tel: 760‐268‐0399  Email: chelseab@nsasearch.com            1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Terri Buller Monday, September 09, 2019 2:11 PM City Council No beach camping Dear Santa Cruz City Council,  Please do not pass any law or ordinance that allows camping on our public beaches.  These are for all to enjoy.  Sincerely,   The Buller family.     Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sarah Wickens Monday, September 09, 2019 2:01 PM City Council Beach Curfew & Camping Dear City Council Members, I am writing today to ask that you ban and allow your law enforcement to enforce no camping and a curfew on our beaches. Santa Cruz is meant to be for all residents, not a small select group who choose to make their own rules and cause hardship on everyone else. I have three children who don't want to go to the Boardwalk because of the homeless issue on the beach right in front of it. They fear that the next time they have contact with a homeless person they could set them off and be physically attacked. We come from a family of values that if we see someone hurting we try to help, my children used to carry snacks to offer instead of cash, unfortunately they were screamed at and physically threatened too many times so they don't offer even a smile anymore. It is no secret that Main Beach already has issues with being contaminated, surely the homeless trash, human excrement, needles, and stolen property in various forms of use cannot be helping our ocean. I am concerned of our future in this town, it seems that you only react to situations long after the everyday citizens have noticed and complained for weeks. Why is this a continued and acceptable practice? The Council is voted in to serve its constituency however your inactions and complacency shows you are less concerned with health, well being, and safety of your fellow citizens and more concerned with your own image as politicians. I am disappointed and hope you can change the pattern you are in before things become even more unbearable for families in this city. Sarah Wickens 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Amalie Sinclair Monday, September 09, 2019 1:40 PM City Council Main Beach – Public Access Policy Santa Cruz City Council, It is completely apparent that the City residents will not allow homeless encampment in the City, so what is the alternative ? The Martin vs Boise ruling maintains that enforcement can only be obtained if alternative shelter is available. It is also obvious that these services cannot be located in the City owing to increasing demands, high costs and public opposition. The only possible solution is the placement of a large transitional encampment and safe parking facility, in a rural area under County auspice. This would satisfy the Martin vs Boise requirement, and allow full enforcement of the nocamping ordinance across the City. The City has no legal responsibility to provide homeless services, these are designated by the State as the responsibility of Santa Cruz County. We cannot afford to do more, we cannot house or shelter ever growing homeless populations, least of all at the expense of the safety and well being of the community at large. Please take the expedient pathway and enter into negotiation with the County for the essential resource. A large acreage can be purchased or designated, emergency housing, tents and trailers are available from the Federal sources. This should be put in place over the next eighteen months, under the terms of the HEAP funding contingency. Once situated the land base can be suitably developed in stages over many years, through City/County and non profit collaboration. Amalie H Sinclair 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rick Lofvendahl Monday, September 09, 2019 1:36 PM City Council Main Beach Public Access Policy Dear Mayor and Council A major attraction to bring tourism to Santa Cruz is our beautiful beaches. Previously Cowell Beach had been taken over by illegal activity rendering it unsafe for use by most people. The Council enacted a policy to restrict access during certain hours and that illegal activity was curtailed. Now again, we see the homeless setting up their tents and living on the main beach. Nobody wants to see the main beach become another Camp Ross. Please enact the proposed policy to restrict access on the beach to designated hours. Rick Lofvendahl 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jeff Davidson Monday, September 09, 2019 1:33 PM City Council Save our shores Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach. It would be prudent to impose this curfew on all of our City beaches so that encampments don't start popping up on Seabright Beach, Natural Bridges, the Wilder Beaches, etc. Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law-abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to start supporting public safety measures. You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to become an open air asylum with no consequences for antisocial, destructive and obscene behavior. Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires. Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp. Please give our law enforcement officers and rangers some tools to prevent this. Regards, Jeff Davidson Santa Cruz  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: DJ Somers Monday, September 09, 2019 1:29 PM City Council Main Beach Public Access Policy consideration Dear Mayor and Council: I am writing regarding the Main Beach Public Access policy that the City Council will be considering on Tuesday evening. I urge Council to implement a policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach only during the hours of one hour before sunrise until midnight. As a father of two who grew up as Junior Guards, with one becoming a Life Guard at Main Beach, I believe this is a common sense response to the illicit behavior that often occurs on Main Beach during the late and early hours and would be consistent with the policy implemented for Cowell Beach. It is the duty of the City Council to promote safety for all its citizens and to mitigate any potential health hazards in the community and this policy would go a long way in accomplishing both. Please maintain Main Beach as a safe and enjoyable environment for all to partake. Sincerely DJ Somers 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kiki Rustam Monday, September 09, 2019 1:29 PM City Council Objection to open camping To: Santa Cruz City Council, We are frequent visitor at Santa Cruz beaches and often volunteering at beach clean up and our local homeless shelter. There are already plenty overnight shelters with needle waste stations in Santa Cruz. Allowing open camping would mean more waste to the beach and ocean and unsafe place for family and kids. Please consider this as well. Thank you, Kiki -Psalm 23 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tera Martin Monday, September 09, 2019 1:21 PM City Council Ban overnight beach camping Dear City Council Members, Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach. It would be prudent to impose this curfew on all of our City beaches so that encampments don't start popping up on Seabright Beach, Natural Bridges, the Wilder Beaches, etc. Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law-abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to start supporting public safety measures. You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti-social, destructive and obscene behavior. Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires. Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp. Please give our law enforcement officers and rangers some tools to prevent this. If you don't, you will likely be inviting some very expensive lawsuits and pretty much guarantee that at least 2 of you will be recalled in the very near future. Sincerely, Tera Martin 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: R Foy Monday, September 09, 2019 1:19 PM City Council Oppose Overnight Camping on Santa Cruz Beaches To the Santa Cruz City Council Members, I strongly oppose the idea of allowing overnight camping on any Santa Cruz City and County Beaches! Allowing camping on the beaches will threaten the safety, cleanliness and beauty of our cities most precious resources as well as the safety of our community members. Human waste, animal waste, drug paraphernalia, trash, etc. is what will litter our beautiful beaches if we allow such a thing. Please vote to not allow, and to strongly enforce all laws and punish anyone that tries to do so. Thank you, Rebecca Foy Concerned Santa Cruz Resident 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Don Allegri Monday, September 09, 2019 1:15 PM City Council Beach safety We are sending a note to urge the council to not allow overnight camping on our city beaches. There are  resources available to support people who need assistance. Those who make choices to stay overnight on the  beaches will eventually present health and safety concerns to the public and other issues for law enforcement.  Please enforce the laws that currently prevent overnight beach stays.   Thank you.  Don and Lynne Allegri   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kerrie Pipal Monday, September 09, 2019 1:12 PM City Council Main Beach Public Access Policy Dear Santa Cruz City Council members, With respect to your September 10th meeting agenda, General Business section "Main Beach - Public Access Policy" section: I fully support an overnight camping ban on Main Beach (and all Santa Cruz City and County beaches where you have oversight/jurisdiction). If someone wants to camp on the beach, they should find a suitable public campground set-up with the infrastructure to handle such activity in a safe manner. Unlawful beach camping disturbs wildlife, causes additional unmitigated pollution (e.g., trash, human waste, drug paraphernalia) and creates a major public nuisance affecting both community safety and tourist interest in visiting this area. Thank you for considering a vote in favor of this policy. Sincerely, Kerrie Pipal 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Matthew Offutt Monday, September 09, 2019 1:12 PM City Council Open camping on the Main Beach is a bad idea Hello,  I am writing to add my voice to the chorus that allowing open camping on the main beach is a bad idea.  I am a  frequent visitor to the Santa Cruz beaches and I already pick up someone else’s trash on a regular basis.   Allowing camping would make it much worse.  Please don’t!  Thank you,  Matthew Offutt  (408)605‐5237    Sent from my mobile device, please pardon my brevity.    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: brent adams Monday, September 09, 2019 1:11 PM City Council Main Beach Camp Report main beach camp report.pdf To Council members of City of Santa Cruz,   To see for myself what’s happening, I’ve spent 3 days camping at the Main Beach with the other tents.  Attached is my  report, including photos of nearly all of the tents located there.    As you may know, I’ve visited, and have advocated for Transitional Encampments since 2013, just prior to establishing  Warming Center Program.  Since then, I’ve followed the movement and flow of encampments as they appear and  disappear in and around Santa Cruz.  Following a tour of homeless camps in 40 west coast cities in 2016, I started the  Santa Cruz Coalition on Homelessness to begin to address basic unmet needs and what we as a community can do to  begin to meet them. This became the genesis of Day & Night Storage for homeless persons’ belongings and now we’ve  added laundry and are planning a weekly shower trailer stop, we’re becoming a true grass‐roots homeless services  center.    I spent nearly every day visiting the encampment at San Lorenzo Benchlands as well as the Ross Encampment a year  later.  I report most of what I document on a Facebook page, Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz.  So, it’s no surprise that I’d  take a deep dive at the Main Beach Camp.     I believe we as a city, county and community can do far better than this pattern we’ve become accustomed to.  We need  an array of shelter concepts including Transitional Encampment(s), Safe Parking, Safe Sleep Zones as well as traditional  shelters etc.  Otherwise, we can expect more of what we’ve been seeing.    Thank you for your hard work,  Truly,  Brent  588‐9892  1 I spent 3 days and 2 nights camping in a tent on the main beach. They were near perfect nights with friendly people, near-to-no litter, no reports of theft, and with bikes and shoes seen safely rested outside of tents. The sand is sifted with a large machine and tents must be moved daily. City parks workers report no increase in beach garbage. As for urine or defecation, there's no evidence of it anywhere. As for syringes, I saw a single person (out of 40) administering their addictive substance with a needle outside of a tent. I expressed my displeasure with this and they cleaned up their act. There were no syringes anywhere on the ground. There were children playing around and families enjoying the beach among the tents. In a show of confidence, SCPO Chief Andy Mills and Lieutenant Bernie Escalante played barefoot beach volley ball with a group of kids near to the camping area We haven't seen the big influx of people from out of town as I had expected as an effect of the many Bay Area news reports, in fact, last night saw a slight decline in tents. I believe the space can be improved with some collective agreements from the campers regarding community values such as cleanliness and behaviors. There can be no open drug use in a space like this and that's a no-tolerance deal-breaker. I give the camp a 9 5% rating for goodness. As for my tent, as operator of Warming Center's Day & Night Storage Program, we keep a list of people in need of tents and this one goes to the person topping that list. As a budding documentary filmmaker and social media content-producer with more than 10,000 followers, I work to offer relatively un-biased reports. Brent Adams Program Director- Warming Center, Day and Night Storage & Laundry 7am Saturday, Sept. 7 A photo survey of most of the tents on the beach SCPO Chief of Police, Andy Wells visited the camp area on Saturday, walking tent-to-tent and interacting with people. On any given weekend, one may find dozens of tourists with open containers of alcohol and often litter strewn up and down the entire beach. Yet, this camping area has been kept tidy and safe. In the 3 days of my investigation, the only negative things I found were in the 3 photos below. These are minimal when compared to the larger population of beach-goers and wouldn 't have been noticed by most. -- - ·--- -- --· 8 ~~..,- --- -.-.a.. After surveying the beach encampment, police chief Mills and Lt. Bernie Escalante took their shoes off and played beach volleyball with a group of youth. In this photo, Mills is diving for the ball. This is a clear signal that the chief of police feels that the beach is safe. To recap the experience of my personal investigation, I found the encampment to be clean, safe and dignifying. .. · · L~ Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tracy Unti Monday, September 09, 2019 12:58 PM City Council Main Beach curfew plea   Dear City Council Members,    Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary  measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach.   It would be prudent to impose this curfew on all of  our City beaches.    Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law‐abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to  start supporting public safety measures.   You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to  become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti‐social, destructive and obscene behavior.       Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come  here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our  green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires.      Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp.  Please give our law enforcement officers  and rangers some tools to prevent this.   If you don't, you will likely be inviting some very expensive lawsuits  and pretty much guarantee that at least 2 of you will be recalled in the very near future.       Sincerely,   Bruce Brownstein   Tracy Unti  170 Isbel Dr.  Santa Cruz    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Cindy Broersma Monday, September 09, 2019 12:54 PM City Council No opening camping on Main Beach! City Council Members:  When I heard that this was being voted on tomorrow night, I was outraged! What can you be thinking!! And  why have people been allowed to camp in an area where it is against the law??   Are you trying to ruin the city? Are you trying to discourage people from vacationing in Santa Cruz?   Please vote against this!!  Sincerely,  Cindy Broersma  Scotts Valley     Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: plumlee@cruzio.com Monday, September 09, 2019 12:51 PM City Council Main Beach Access Policy. Mayor and Council Members, I am writing regarding the Main Beach Public Access policy that Council will be considering on Tuesday evening. I urge Council to implement a policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach only during the hours of one hour before sunrise until midnight. The Council's approval should be made to relieve the illicit behavior on the beach, including drug use and sales, illegal camping, discarded needles, the accumulation of human waste AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. There is an epidemic of trash and drug paraphernalia, often found on the shoreline where the City Parks and Recreation Department hosts the Junior Lifeguard Program during the summer months. Members of the public should not have to inspect the beach for hazards left by the campers before they let the children enjoy a day in the sand. Because of the health hazards that beach goers often encounter, the citizens of Santa Cruz and visitors to our City often do not return to the beach and by extension the Boardwalk. A curfew and increased patrols and enforcement should result in a significant decrease in the volume of illegal activity that is occurring on the Main Beach and Cowell Beach. I believe there is a curfew currently in effect and said curfew only needs to be enforced. Martin v Boise does not allow illegal activity to take place under the guise of "Homelessness". Enacting a curfew on Main Beach and Cowell Beach will undoubtedly curb the illegal activity that is occurring on these beaches and make the beach a safe and enjoyable place for the entire community to enjoy again. I urge you to approve the curfew or simply enforce the existing curfew. CURRENT RESTRICTIONS AND RULES FROM THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ WEBSITE:           Propane and Butane barbecues are allowed if they have stable legs that can be raised six inches off the ground and the gas cylinder is not exceeding 20 pounds. As of 2016, coal-burning barbecues are not permitted. Glass is not allowed. Alcohol and Smoking are not allowed. Dogs and other Pets are prohibited. Please clean up after yourself so that others may enjoy the beauty of these beaches. Fireworks are not allowed. Camping is not permitted. Campfires are not allowed on Main or Cowell beaches. They are allowed in fire rings at the following State Beaches: New Brighton State Beach Twin Lakes State Beach 831-464-6330 831-427-4868 Seabright State Beach 831-427-4868 Wildlife is best left alone and unfed. If an animal is in distress or needs aid you can contact one of the following: Marine Mammal Center Native Animal Rescue 831-633-6298 831-462-0726 Main Beach is open 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Cowell Beach has a 12:00 am to one hour before sunrise curfew. David Plumlee 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Peggy Overbeck Monday, September 09, 2019 12:42 PM City Council Beach camping Please enforce a curfew on our local beaches and do not allow camping on our beaches of Santa Cruz. Our  health will be compromised if urine and feces as well as hypodermic needles and garbage are littering our  beaches, contaminating our resources and flowing into our Monterey Bay Sanctuary.   Please enforce our littering laws, too as the Westside is becoming a dump alongside the roads.     Peggy Overbeck     Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Shana Bartlett Monday, September 09, 2019 12:19 PM City Council Fwd: Camping at Main Beach Osh Bartlett Oakley Sales Representative OPTICAL & SUN SPECIALTY CHANNEL CELL: (831) 809-3953 Fast, easy, 24/7 online ordering: My.Luxottica.com. Take advantage of FREE shipping for any order placed— No minimums to qualify, and you’ll never miss out on sales in between my rep visits. Luxottica Dealer Services: 1-800-422-2020, Monday-Friday 8am-8pm EST All Things Oakley Rx: Patient Calculator Begin forwarded message: From: Shana Bartlett Date: September 9, 2019 at 12:18:44 PM PDT Subject: Camping at Main Beach To Whom It May ConcernPLEASE DO NOT allow camping on our beaches!!! I am a mother of 5, my husband and I were married in front of the Lighthouse, at the Lane, 24 years ago. Our children have all gone through or are still doing the Jr. Lifeguard program at Main Beach every summer, one daughter is a competitive beach volleyball player at Main Beach, our children are all avid competitive surfers and one daughter teaches for a local surf school at Cowells. My husband and I have lived on the Circles in the same house since we were married. He has lived on the Circles since he was 8 years old. I have been hesitant to get involved with what is happening in our town for various reasons. But I must voice our opposition to what is happening in Santa Cruz. This is a SCARY place to live! I cannot count how many friends and family members that we have moved away because they are done with this town and the outrageous behavior that is tolerated and supported here. This summer my children had needles come within a foot length of them on Cowells beach, 2 incidents in 3 days. Once while my daughter was walking to meet me after volleyball an open needle was in the seaweed on the sand. The second time was when our family that had MOVED AWAY because of how bad Santa Cruz 1 had become was here visiting and met us at Cowells to surf. Their kids were playing in the sand and NEXT to their little girl was a needle in the not even ankle deep water with no cap on it! My brother in law is a SC Sheriff Sergeant and he was there so he brought it to discard of it properly. THIS IS NOT OKAY. I just told my husband that I am scared now for my safety walking in West Cliff. Countless times I have come in contact with situations that feel like they could become threatening to my safety especially if there are not people around. I have intentionally walked to the SC wharf because it had felt safer due to have more people around. However, I told my husband last week I need to join a gym or always have another person to walk with. I am scared for myself but especially for our children. Most days either my husband, myself or some of our children are surfing at Steamer Lane. This is where we have been surfing for over 30 years. Have you seen the parking lots? There are drug deals happening EVERY day there. It is often hard to find a spot because transients park and sit in their cars all day. The stories that could be told from the locals about what they have witnessed. On Friday, a man was holding a sign there asking for LSD. My husband did a video interview with him and finished it off telling him nicely, “you can just move along away from our town. We do not need this here.” Of course, he was there again this weekend. Just one small example of how sad our town has become. The tax paying hard working upstanding citizens are daily at risk because of our city’s government NOT changing its ways that are clearly not working. Santa Cruz is welcoming with open arms ALL individuals to come to our town and be taken care of with no responsibility required of them and NO BACKGROUND checks! This is NOT how you help people! This is how you ENABLE individuals to continue a lifestyle that ultimately hurts themselves but worse hurts others. We love our children. Because we love them we give them responsibilities in our home. There needs to be a better system. There should not be FREE handouts without requiring some clear responsibilities from the individuals that are receiving help. This will help weed out those that are really in need and those that are taking advantage of the help Santa Cruz provides. How many more crimes need to happen here for our local government to put an end to this? Another car stolen? House broken into? Window smashed? Bike stolen? Or worse, another stabbing? Rape or murder? CHANGE MUST HAPPEN How many pleas for help does our city council need to receive? 2 My husband and I have many friends in local law enforcement and they are equally frustrated. Where is the logic in allowing the criminals/law breakers to control our town? You love people by not allowing them to continue hurting themselves or others. Give them dignity by requiring responsibilities to be met. Santa Cruz will continue to lose the citizens it most needs if CHANGE does not happen QUICKLY! Honestly, as I said, it is hard to get involved due to many factors in my lives. But I do not feel like I have a choice anymore with the unbelievable possibility that camping will be allowed on the beach down the road from our house where our children are almost daily. Scary in so many different ways! This is not even beginning to go into the crimes that have happened to our family and I would dare say almost every individual that lives in this area. Almost anyone you talk to has a story or countless stories of how they have been violated. Listen to the law abiding citizens if this county. Listen to our law enforcement. You must make a change before another person is hurt. Sincerely, Shana Bartlett 3 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jeni Baer Monday, September 09, 2019 12:19 PM City Council NO Beach camping The fact homeless drug addicts are camping in our beach is absurd; and even more absurd that they haven’t  been kicked off!!   More needles and human waste will flood our beach if this continues!   Disgusting!! Please DO NOT ALLOW THIS CHAOS!!!!  Jeni Corrigan     Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: nonnaterri@att.net Monday, September 09, 2019 12:07 PM City Council Main Beach - overnight camping City Council Members:    Thank you for putting the health, welfare and safety of law‐biding citizen above those who constantly ignore, disrespect  and have no regard for anyone but themselves.  The main beach of Santa Cruz, in fact all beaches along the coast, should be a safe place for individuals and families to  enjoy.  Santa Cruz City and County, as well as many other places, have a DRUG CRISIS. All parties need to work together to  ensure those individuals are given the opportunity to receive treatment, counseling and life coaching instead of being  allowed to do “whatever they want”.   EVERY resident and visitor and the environment has the right to experience beaches and walking along the sidewalks  without worry of stepping on needles, over trash and feces.    DO NOT allow open camping on the main beach of Santa Cruz.    Respectfully,  Teresa Teresa A. Gregory  325 Brightside Court  Roseville, CA 95661  916‐740‐4474 home  530‐305‐7924 cell  nonnaterri@att.net    To help protect y ou r priv acy , Microsoft Office pre auto matic downlo ad o f this picture from the Intern Virus-free. www.avast.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: deanbola@baymoon.com Monday, September 09, 2019 12:00 PM City Council Agenda Item Beach Policy Subject: Agenda Item -Sept. 19, 2019 Main Beach Public Access Policy Council members, While living in southern California, I saw two seaside amusement parks deteriorate and close. One (the Long Beach Pike) was demolished and underwent redevelopment. The other located in Santa Monica (Pacific Ocean Park), rivaled Disneyland in its heyday. Sadly, it burned. Admittance was either free or very reasonable. Santa Cruz has the Boardwalk. It is one of the most popular amusement parks in the U.S. and is a big draw from near and far and is one of the main attractions in Santa Cruz. It is an incredible employer of kids and adults. These kids need job experience and the Boardwalk does a great job giving local youth an opportunity as an outlet for their time and keeps them safe, off the streets, out of gangs and away from drugs. Many families frequent the Boardwalk and I can say with assurance that people truly appreciate the free entry, the wholesomeness and cleanliness, and the absolute safety of being there especially for people with small children. The Boardwalk provides many jobs that also provide benefits and has many employees who have worked there for decades. The Boardwalk is an incredible economic engine. it is well run. And clean. And family oriented. It attracts many visitors who eat here, stay in motels and visit other attractions in the area. The Boardwalk pays a huge amount of revenue to the City coffers and as such, it should be treasured as an incredible resource that any jurisdiction should value and take pride in and do everything to protect. The beach in front offers many healthy lifestyle opportunities for beach volleyball players, jr. lifeguards, iron man events, strolling, picnicking and beach going. There are many people, cultures and ages who enjoy the area in a healthy manner following municipal laws and societal rules. The recent arrival of drug abusers, transients and those who needn’t care about Santa Cruz and are now camping on the adjacent beach and threatening its wholesomeness and vitality. This is entirely inappropriate, damaging, illegal and not what the people of Santa Cruz envision. This beach borders the Marine Sanctuary and a great deal of protections have gone into ensuring that this body of water will be as wonderful a resource and habitat for the marine life that is flourishing there now and in the future. Needles, human feces, urine, trash, drugs, and other illegal activities are occurring. 1 The people of Santa Cruz have paid a huge amount of money in treating wastewater, ensuring that harmful substances are not allowed to leak into storm drains and into the bay, have had their industries and restaurants required to meet certain federal, state and local standards and have had development and human activity that might have effects via the San Lorenzo River and other downstream pathways scrutinized. This has been very costly as individuals and group wise as taxpayers toward a local jurisdiction. We must be good stewards of what we have. We have an incredible marine resource. We have an incredible tax and job generating engine that attracts tourists the life blood of Santa Cruz. I am completely disgusted by the lack of law enforcement in Santa Cruz. It seem purposeful to destroy this town from within. You have been gamed by a few individuals who recognize a loop hole and have decided to move the drug abusers and transients in. This is wrong. Your council must make a strong stand against cherry picking of laws, creating situations and inducements to those who want to abuse the generosity of the community and run amok. What you are doing is not making the situation better but causing more drug users to flock here. Enforce drug laws, Strengthen ordinances to remove illegal camping and squatting on our public lands. Take control of the situation or get out of the way and let others with more common sense do the job. Many people are disgusted. We are not here to solve the problems of the state or the country. This is a County problem and responsibility and should be removed from your hands except to provide for the legal protections your citizens and voters who are imploring and demanding and are finding lacking in your body. Please pass strong laws here at the beach and on every public road and right of way to stop this invasion from happening. You are allowing Santa Cruz to rot from within. Sincerely, Diane Romeo Property owner and voter 2 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Janelle Mace Monday, September 09, 2019 11:51 AM City Council No camping on our beaches!!! Please please please!! As a long time resident of SC County I am appalled at even the idea of letting the  homeless camp on our beaches!!! I Vote NO on this and PLEASE enforce the laws that are in place for ALL  individuals!!!!    Thank you,  Janelle Mace     Sent from my iPhone. Please disregard any misspellings.   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Fritz Monday, September 09, 2019 11:50 AM City Council September 10, 2019 7:30 PM council meeting agenda item 1, Main Beach public access policy Dear Santa Cruz City Council members, This letter is in regards to item number one on the 7:30 PM city Council meeting agenda for Tuesday, September 10, 2019 titled “ Main beach public access policy“ I am writing to urge you most strenuously to adopt this resolution regarding establishment of a curfew as described in the resolution. As a lifetime beach area resident living a quarter of a mile from Santa Cruz wharf raising two minor children who regularly frequent the Main beach, It is inconceivable to me that the city Council would allow the current dangerous situation to develop. Over the last 30 days, reports of open hypodermic drug use, public defecation, urination, prostitution, smoking, glass containers, loose dogs, and numerous other behaviors that we don’t tolerate in our public spaces have been observed and reported by myself and others. This behavior by the homeless campers currently using the main beach for their campsite and toilet is intolerable and needs to be vigorously addressed. In addition to adopting the resolution mentioned above, which I repeat I strenuously urge you to do, I recommend that you establish and enforce some additional daytime use rules. Namely, no bicycles on the beach. The bicycles on the beach provide an obstruction and a hazard. There are adequate bike racks and railings along Beach Street and the Boardwalk for bicycles to be secured. Additionally, daytime users with beach structures i.e.tents or easy-up awnings, should not be allowed to leave their tents unattended. I would suggest that a rule be adopted which allows Santa Cruz Park Rangers and law enforcement to remove tents and structures that have been left unattended on the main beach for more than 60 minutes. You simply cannot allow a treasured and valuable public space like our main beach to become a dangerous homeless encampment and environmental hazard. Our community deserves better. Regards, Frederick Bensusan 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jeanette Williams Monday, September 09, 2019 11:27 AM City Council Curfew on Main Beach Please approve the measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach.  Camping on the beach is getting out of hand ,just like the Ross Camp.      Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tami Manchester Monday, September 09, 2019 11:21 AM City Council Main Beach Tomorrow night the council will discuss whether or not to allow open camping on the main beach in front of the boardwalk and near the wharf. Santa Cruz already offers plenty of places for overnight shelter that are equipped with public bathrooms and needle waste stations. If you love Santa Cruz, either as a resident or visitor, please voice your opposition to opening our beaches to another disastrous and un-managed homeless camp. As a long term resident and wife of a resident born and raised in Santa Cruz we are pleading with you to NOT allow encampments on our beaches. Than k you! Mark and Tami Manchester 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mik and Nancy Moore Monday, September 09, 2019 11:16 AM City Council Camping on the Main Beach??? Hey, my husband and I (in our 60s and 70s), are thinking of bringing our tents and air mattresses (and about  50 friends) down to Main Beach and party away!!!   Alcohol a plenty, how ‘bout some loud music, and not to  worry, we’ll defecate under the boardwalk so no one can see. and to hell with those damn tourists at Ideal  Fish if they hear people having sex in their tent‐ why don’t those damn tourists just go away?? Oh, and my dog  is a companion dog so I’ll just let her run around (don’t worry she don’t bite, but she may have a crap that  some kid may step on, but shouldn’t those kids know better?). Yeah, this reeks of heavy sarcasm; but isn’t the  City Council supposed to represent its’ constituency? This beautiful town is being dragged under and we fear it  will get worse until we hit bottom; maybe that’s what needs to happen. It truly saddens us, we have lived here  almost 40 years, have WORKED, PAID OUR TAXES, AND OBEYED THE LAWS!!!    Please save this town (and  while you’re at it, get rid of those troublemaker F. not bombs individuals).   Sincerely, Mik Moore and Nancy  Rosenberg  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ann Bolich Monday, September 09, 2019 11:01 AM City Council Enforce Overnight Camping Ban Dear city council members,    I have grown up in Santa Cruz and now am 67 years old.  Took a walk yesterday to the main beach to see for  myself the illegal campers there.  I counted over 25 tents.   Also, saw many of them smoking in front of their  tents which I know is not allowed on the main beach.  Many of these people are homeless by choice and like  this lifestyle.  Drugs, alcohol……..They need to be in shelters overnight.  If they don’t want to go they need to  pack up and leave.  Please enforce the overnight beach curfew!!!  They are also using the ocean as a  bathroom.  I thought we were supposed to be helping our environment not adding to all the problems.    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kathi Suba Monday, September 09, 2019 11:01 AM City Council Please do not approve the Mail Beach Camping !!! As a Santa Cruz County resident and Santa Cruz City business owner, I am imploring you to not approve Camping on the Main Beach. I have compassion for those that are homeless, but this is not the answer. Santa Cruz County has plenty of other options, without using this family beach. PLEASE DO NOT SUBJECT OUR YOUNG FAMILYS AND VISTORS TO THIS ELEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. We already have a problem with visitors not coming to the downtown stores, due to the activities and aggressive nature of the homeless populations. Please do not subject the boardwalk to this suffering too. THIS WILL AFFECT OUR MUCH NEEDED TOURIST MONEY.   Kathleen Suba Absolute Physicians Billing Service Santa Cruz Board Builders Guild P: 831.439.9964 F: 831.600.7528 Confidentiality Agreement: This e-mail message is intended only for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under the law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or not the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify me immediately.Thanks.    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: marijke.gottfried Monday, September 09, 2019 10:55 AM City Council Tomorrow's meeting Importance: High Hello. I am opposed to people camping on main beach. No one wants syringes and whatever other crime that these campers bring. This is a family beach meant for enjoyment. Sincerely, Marijke Gottfried Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Chris Monday, September 09, 2019 3:27 PM City Council Camping on any beach, anywhere downtown, or on Delaware is ridiculous! Hopefully you will stop this immediately! This camping anywhere is making Santa Cruz look very foolish. I would be all for putting 100 Tuff Sheds in th old cement factory parking lot and use its sewer, but this is not a campground in our small town. If someone camps in Lighthouse Field out my window; archery or BB gun target practice would come to mind! Chris Jordan 890 West Cliff Drive 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Joan Akers Monday, September 09, 2019 3:37 PM City Council Public Comment Re: General Business Item#1, Main Beach Public Access Policy Dear Mayor and City Council,    Please support a curfew on the main beach. It is not the place for those experiencing homelessness to camp.    Camping on the beach:        Is detrimental to the sensitive marine ecosystem       Negatively affects our tourist industry which generates revenue for the            City of Santa Cruz    The curfew needs to be established and enforced so that the beach is maintained, protected and is safe for all  to use.    Sincerely,    Joan Akers    Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lee Taiz Monday, September 09, 2019 3:50 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council camping on the beach I hope that our beaches will be camper free very soon. Among other things, beach camping is a public health risk. Lee Taiz Flora Unveiled The Discovery and Denial of Sex in Plants Lincoln Taiz and Lee Taiz Available through all good bookshops, or direct from Oxford University Press 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kathy Riley Monday, September 09, 2019 3:57 PM City Council In Support of Staff Recommendations on Beach Restrictions Dear Mayor Watkins and honorable City Council Members, I am writing in support of the proposed beach restrictions, including the beach curfew and no camping provisions. I am in full support of these policies recommended by staff. I am pretty sure many folks would love to camp on our beaches up and down the coast. I would probably enjoy that myself, with family and friends, some little weekend camp outs at Mitchell's Cove or perhaps down behind the Crow's Nest, Natural Bridges or Twin Lakes Beach. All beautiful areas because camping and living on the beach are NOT permitted there. I also think the ban on beach camping should be permanent. Our region has worked decades to protect our Monterrey Bay Sanctuary. We need to keep our beach areas clean and beautiful for all community members and tourists to come and enjoy. Thank you. Kathy Riley 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Siff, Fred (sifffh) Monday, September 09, 2019 4:00 PM City Council Camping on Main Beach To the Mayor and Santa Cruz City Council: I am a registered voter as is my wife. We are seriously distressed to see the Council dragged down and torn apart by the ferocious combat described (in purple prose) in Krohn’s opinion piece in today’s (Sept 9) Sentinel. That’s the larger issue, but the immediate one is camping on Main Beach. It should be a matter of common sense and common decency that this cannot be allowed. Do we really want to trash public access areas such as Main Beach? Safeguarding – and even enhancing -- the quality of life for all citizens (not just the homeless) should be a matter of utmost importance to the Council. It will be for us as we vote in the next election. But, until then, please vote to establish and police a curfew on Main Beach. Fred & Aileen Siff 121 Bayona Drive SC 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Laina Jacobs Monday, September 09, 2019 4:13 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council clean up our beaches!! Why are we allowing people to camp on the beach? This is not allowed, and should be stopped. Please implement the policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach during the hours of one hour before sunrise to midnight. We have policies for reasons. Laina Jacobs, Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ann Durbin Monday, September 09, 2019 4:04 PM City Council; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Drew Glover; Donna Meyers; Justin Cummings; Martine Watkins; Sandy Brown Yes please keep SC beaches clean Please implement a policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach during the hours of one hour before sunrise until midnight. Act to prevent any further occurrences of Ross Camp! 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: David Terrazas Monday, September 09, 2019 4:04 PM City Council; Martine Watkins Bonnie Bush; Monica Terrazas Agenda Item #1 Main Beach - Proposed Curfew Dear Mayor Watkins and Councilmembers: This is in regards to Evening Agenda Item One, scheduled for discussion on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Please take immediate action to protect our local beaches and support the expansion of the existing beach curfew to include Main Beach. As parents and regular visitors to Cowell and Main Beach, we urge you take steps to ensure that our beaches are used responsibly and that we prioritize compatible activities. It is critical that the Council continues to work with the County to identify appropriate emergency housing resources. However, please do not conflate issues of homelessness with this action to expand the beach curfew to include Main Beach. Coordinated action with the County to support emergency shelter does not require City leaders to give up their role as stewards of our parks, beaches and open spaces Therefore, please vote, with your head and heart, to support the expansion of the beach curfew to include Main Beach. Thank you for your service. David & Monica Terrazas With Much Appreciation, 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Elizabeth Plageman Monday, September 09, 2019 4:03 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council Mom Plageman No camping on the Beach! Dear City Council,    Please stop the beach camping.  The boardwalk generates revenue for the city and is a family environment.   Please vote to move this homeless encampment from the main beach and enforce the curfew.  Also please  vote to remove the campers from our city and Delaware!! There are needles, feces, urine, coming from these  campers.  Please enforce the no parking overnight bans as well.   We should not allow overnight camper  parking near our parks or on our city streets.      E. Plageman   M. Plageman     Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Gigi Hartman Monday, September 09, 2019 4:17 PM City Council Enact the Main Beach Curfew Dear Councilmembers,    Here we go again. I am compelled to write you a letter to insist that the governing body of this city do its job.     Stop the destruction, stop the pollution, stop the needles, stop the crime, stop the invasion, stop the filth, stop  the fear, stop bullying, stop the disrespect.     Honor the community, support the business owners, protect the children, enforce the laws and ordinances,  recognize how revenue is generated to keep this city thriving and successful and protect it.    Do your job! Enact the curfew! We cannot have a repeat of Ross Camp!    Gigi    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Christy Mckim Monday, September 09, 2019 4:25 PM City Council Sampling on main beach I am against allowing camping in the beach. I was recently at Main Beach and was reflecting on the change in  the beach. I was afraid to walk barefooted on the beach for the first time in my life. A sad change for lovely  Santa Cruz. Please protect the safety and family atmosphere of our beaches.     Christy Mckim   Sent from my iPhone    1 SLEEPING AT THE BEACH- OUR COMMUNITY'S ETHICAL DILEMNA "Julia did they chase you off the Coral Street sidewalk too?" "Yea, I think I had slept a couple ofhours; it was probably about 2 am when the same patrolman shined a flashlight in my face." "You can't sleep on the sidewalk, blocking a pedestrian," he proclaimed. "There are no pedestrians on the side walk at 2 am," I replied. "And where am I suppose to sleep? The River St. shelter is full. Besides I don't like being restricted as to when I can come and go their policy." He growled, "OK, but I'm going to have to cite you again for trespassing!" "Julia, let's head downtown, and if that sheltered area by the Post Office is fully occupied, let's go to the beach, down by the wharf." "I hate having to move again. I also feel my period coming. And as a woman,! constantly feel the threat of assault." "I hardly remember having a real bed - a sheet and a blanket." "Let's hope they don't chase us off the beach too." "I don't like having to sleep on the sand, but at least it's a place where we may not be awakened with a policeman standing over us, telling us we are trespassing." ~ ~ ::.t...ov .!J ·v z~ J"')<::) ~~ ~~ .__ ·- =~ ~~ ~- Monday, September 09, 2019 4:41 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council Beaches I’m in support of an ordinance that will keep people from camping on the beach.    Maggie       1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rich Waters Monday, September 09, 2019 4:29 PM City Council Meeting Tuesday 9/10 Hi City Council, I am a citizen of Santa Cruz, and I would like to offer my opinion on some agenda issues: 1) I oppose any changes to policies for the Main Beach. The "dry sand" rule seems particularly convoluted. All of the reports I've seen indicate that there hasn't been any problems with the current situation. As such, we should continue with the status quo until it stops working. 2) De Laveaga is a treasure. We should do whatever we can to make it sustainable and environmentally efficient. To the extent possible, it should become more financially solvent, but not everything needs to make money. It provides a service to the community. Thanks, -Rich ---------------------------------Sent from my iPad ---------------------------------- 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: kathy Pyle Monday, September 09, 2019 4:27 PM City Council main beach curfew City Council members, Former Chief Kevin Vogel said it well for all of us who love Santa Cruz.  We are in total  agreement with him.  We are respectfully asking all of our City council members to please approve the  curfew  on the main beach.  “Camp Ross on our sacred beach is not acceptable”  Thank you,  Gordon and Kathy Pyle            1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kristy Amory Monday, September 09, 2019 4:26 PM City Council support for the proposed curfew at Main Beach Dear City Council members, I am a resident of Santa Cruz voicing my support for the proposed curfew at Main Beach. The curfew will benefit both the citizens of Santa Cruz and tourists who frequent the beach and beach-side establishments with their friends and families. The curfew will make Main Beach a safer and cleaner destination. The curfew will bring more visitors to the Main Beach area. The curfew will preserve the environment by curbing the waste, garbage, and debris that accumulate where people live outdoors without adequate facilities. In addition to establishing a curfew at Main Beach, please enforce the same ordinance and no overnight camping at Cowell's Beach too so that those camping on Main Beach don't move there. No city beaches should be places for human encampments. We have a duty to preserve our coast. Santa Cruz beaches are our city's gems and are part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We do not want to pollute our beaches or our ocean. Thank you for taking resident concerns to heart. We love this city and want to make it a safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable experience for our friends, our family, and especially our children. Sincerely, Kristy Amory 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Donald Smith Monday, September 09, 2019 4:53 PM City Council I support main beach curfew I write to express my strongest support of a curfew on all City of Santa Cruz public beaches, from one hour before sunrise until midnight. I am sickened by the misuse of our natural resources in Santa Cruz and the enabling of occupants of our community to denigrate and degrade those resources with no accountability or consequences. My 13 year old son went through the Jr Guards program again this year and he routinely had stories of public drukeness, fights, open drug use, and the accumulation of trash along Cowells, the wharf area, and Main Beach. Please City Council, put the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the few. Do not support or enable uses of our precious natural resources that diminish environmental quality and public safety! Thank you Don Smith ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Donald Smith, PhD  Professor, Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department  University of California  Santa Cruz, CA  95064  (831) 459‐5041  http://www.metx.ucsc.edu/    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Monika and Detlef Monday, September 09, 2019 4:57 PM City Council Main beach overnight sleeping   Immediately stop overnight sleeping at the main beach. Did you not learn anything from Camp Ross?    Monika Adam    Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Eric Hildinger Monday, September 09, 2019 8:19 PM City Council Main Beach Dear Council Members,    I am writing to encourage you to impose a curfew on Main Beach. The scene around the base of the wharf and  volley ball courts is already looking like the Ross Camp and clearly that was a mistake.  Please impose a  camping ban and curfew to protect this and surrounding areas from the accompanying raw sewage, needles,  and calls for emergency services.       Sincerely,      Eric Hildinger  King Street  Santa Cruz         1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tara Leonard Monday, September 09, 2019 8:15 PM City Council Main beach curfew Dear City Council Members,   It’s hard to believe that residents actually have to write letters to elected officials to state the obvious: It is not  okay to camp on Main Beach! Or, for that matter, on any other local beach. Did you not learn a thing from the  recent Ross Camp fiasco? Get in front of this now. Do not wait until several hundred people are squatting on  one of our most popular tourist destinations, refusing to leave and creating filthy, unsanitary conditions for  campers and visitors alike. Word of the welcome wagon is already getting out. Why pay for a hotel room when  you can just camp on the beach? Impose a curfew and then actually enforce it with every one, every time.  That way we can ALL enjoy the beach in a safe, legal, appropriate manner. Imagine that.   Tara Leonard    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Michelle Overbeck Monday, September 09, 2019 7:40 PM City Council Does anyone actually read these? I’m against camping on the beach. I’ve sent a bunch of emails and never once heard from any of you.    Does anyone read these?    Curious resident,    Michelle     Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Anna Garaway Monday, September 09, 2019 7:39 PM City Council No camping on Santa Cruz Main beach or ANY beaches in Santa Cruz Dear city council, Please do not allow a homeless camp on main beach in Santa Cruz. This is not good for local businesses (that pay lots of money in city taxes, business license and fees that are put on them by you, the city), it's not good for the health of our beaches and sea life, and its not safe or healthy for our families, children, the community as a whole. My daughter had her first year of Little Guards at Cowells beach this summer. She absolutely loved it, and I have always said its the best summer program for children. But I had a legitimate fear everyday dropping her off at the beach. Fear of the people that were down on the beach, fear of what she may see up at the bathrooms, fear of the risk of stepping on needles. Fortunately, these fears did not totally come to fruition, but the jr lifeguard program did have their storage broken into, and we did see two needles on the beach, outside of jr. guard hours, and closer to the surf. Regardless, this is not acceptable. I don't want to tell my daughter she can't swim because the water is contaminated with human feces, or not to play in the sand, for the risk of needles. This city council is ridiculous, thinking you are helping these homeless, law ignoring citizens by letting them put our whole community at risk. This is very much a public safety and health issue. You are not protecting the law abiding citizens here. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW CAMPING ON THE BEACHES. Thank you, Anna Garaway Santa Cruz Realtor 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: JDC Monday, September 09, 2019 7:38 PM City Council My dear Son made himself homeless via meth....and I don't want him camping on the beach I stand with Chief Vogel.....an enforced curfew, please! Joe Collins 120 Manor Av W 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Caren Ruppert Monday, September 09, 2019 7:19 PM City Council Open camping on Main Beach Regarding your discussion concerning allowing camping on SC main beach I believe this is a disaster in the  making. There is already many places for overnight shelter that are equipped with restroom and needle waste  stations. Please do NOT approve this measure.   Thank you   Caren Ruppert     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Nancy Cahill Monday, September 09, 2019 7:13 PM City Council Overnight Santa Cruz Beaches Please do not allow our beaches to be open to people staying overnight!! This is not an acceptable solution to the homeless problem. There is not proper sanitation or needle disposal. This presents a health risk for our community. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Dennis Webb Monday, September 09, 2019 7:07 PM City Council Stop inviting the lawless to our city Dear City Council:    The recent camp at Main Beach is a symptom of your Council majority’s complete ineptitude at leading our  city. How is it that overnight camping and all it’s associated activities (drug use, litter, public defecation) are  completely allowable under your leadership? Why has it taken you so long to address this issue? And why is  your proposed ban temporary?    I implore you to realize that your unwillingness to crack down on trespassing, littering, drug use, theft and  other nuisance behavior has resulted in Santa Cruz’s reputation as a haven for the lawless. People come to  Santa Cruz from all over the United States to take advantage of your leniency, at the expense of the local  population. The most unfortunate result of this influx has been the overwhelming of our local support  systems. Because there are so many lawless degenerates in our city today, we are losing our ability to provide  much needed support for those who truly need our help getting back on their feet.     We must work to end the homelessness crisis we are experiencing ‐ but we will never be able to do so if you  continue to invite the lawlessness that has descended on our city.    Dennis Webb       1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Patricia Pianavilla Monday, September 09, 2019 6:35 PM City Council Open camping Dear Santa Cruz City Council,  Please do not let open camping along the board walk beach.  We think that idea could cost more liabilities  than benefits .  Our beaches under stress, we do not need to increase those stresses.  Patricia and Pete Pianavilla    Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Paul Brown Monday, September 09, 2019 6:32 PM City Council Do NOT allow camping on the main Santa Cruz beach! Paul & Barbara Brown, Residents, Santa Cruz County 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Gisela Richards Monday, September 09, 2019 6:19 PM City Council Please implement a Main Beach Public Access Policy I am very concerned   about homeless camps on the beaches of Santa Cruz. While I understand that  homelessness is a very difficult issue to solve, camping on the beach has many problems outside of possibly  discouraging tourists from coming to Santa Cruz,  The trash, feces and  needles left behind are a public health hazard not  only for people but also for animals  and the health or our ocean waters.  Please vote responsibly.  Thank you  Gisela Richards  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Justin McNabb Monday, September 09, 2019 6:09 PM City Council Main Beach Camping Please! Do not allow any camping on main beach. Particularly without a registration process like any other camping spot. It will amount to an environmental problem, unsanitary oceans, less tourist dollars, and ultimately is only a temporary solution with unwanted lasting impact. It solves nothing! And please clean up the existing beach and remove all encampments before it turns into another camp Ross situation. This problem needs a different solution! Justin McNabb -Justin McNabb Bailey Properties License # 01928930 831-334-4727 www.justinmcnabb.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Joe De Meo Monday, September 09, 2019 6:18 PM City Council Kevin Vogel To City Council: I am in agreement with mr Vogel. We must enact a curfew to keep our beaches safe and clean. Thank you Joe De Meo 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tom Monday, September 09, 2019 5:55 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council Homeless on the beach   Please exercise the authority of the Council to remove homeless encampments from the beach as well as the  new encampments forming along HWY 1/Mission St after the River Street sign.    Thank you,  T Gordon (West Side)    Sent from my iPad...excuse typos.      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Elizabeth Traugott Monday, September 09, 2019 5:53 PM City Council problem of the homeless on the beach I live at 917 Third St, Santa Cruz  I respect the concerns of the homeless and the attempts of the City council to address their concerns, but  letting the homeless camp on the beach between Dream Inn and the Boardwalk is a major problem.  My 11‐year grandson is now scared to go to the beach and when I had out of two guests the other day I was  embarrassed for Santa Cruz to take them there and worried about how sanitary it would be for their 3 year‐ old and 9 year old girls, so we went to Twin Lakes, That is a shame because I like to walk the three blocks to  the beach.          1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sharon Reeves Monday, September 09, 2019 5:40 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council camping on Main Beach Dear Santa Cruz City Council, I am shocked that people are being allowed to camp/take up residence on our beautiful Main Beach! I can only imagine the impact on tourism, not to mention the unsanitary conditions for those of us who live in Santa Cruz and want to enjoy a walk on the beach. I used to enjoy walking barefoot, now I am terrified. Why are we letting this happen in our community? At the council meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 10, I urge you to implement a sensible policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach during the hours of one hour before sunrise until midnight. We must stop the enabling and use common sense! Thank you, Sharon Reeves Lighthouse Avenue 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Quinn McLaughlin Monday, September 09, 2019 5:38 PM City Council Main beach camping As a lifelong resident of Santa Cruz I am once again deeply disturbed by the apparent incompetence of your  Chamber. Camping on main beach? Somewhat obviously, this should never have been allowed to happen.      We have a major problem with mentally ill and drug addicted people‐ too often referred to as “homeless”  when that really is not the key problem‐ wreaking havoc in Santa Cruz. These persons need to be in closed  programs, and possibly in jail (when warranted) on the way to these. We cannot allow open air drug usage and  drug markets, criminal activity and general lawlessness to continue in Santa Cruz.    I’m deeply disappointed in the Council’s dereliction of duty in these most critical matters.  No more drug  camping please. What will it take for you guys to get this?    Quinn McLaughlin       1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tamera Smith Monday, September 09, 2019 5:36 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council Clean Beaches Please do not allow camping to continue on Main Beach. It is bad for the environment, tourism and unfair to  the majority of citizens who love and desire a clean safe environment at Main Beach. Tamera Smith    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Wes Brown Monday, September 09, 2019 5:35 PM City Council Laurie Brown Safety on our beaches Dear Mayor and Council:   I am writing to ask that the city enforce a curfew and prevent overnight camping on all Santa Cruz Beaches. It is the only real option to prevent illegal activity and compromised public health and safety conditions.  Without such action, drug use and sales, illegal camping, discarded needles and the accumulation of human waste will become the norm, as it has in other locations when “homeless” camping was ignored.  The beaches belong to the greater community, and they should be a safe and enjoyable place for the entire community to enjoy.  Respectfully,  Wes Brown, Cowell Street Resident who likes to walk (safely) on the beach.    Wes Brown  VP Marketing  Direct: 831.824.0578  Support: 888.973.7546  Email: Wes@beautysolutions.com  Beauty Solutions, LLC www.beautysolutions.com  Kevin Murphy Color.Me Hotheads Alfaparf Eleven Megix10 Trissola      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Annette Sullivan Monday, September 09, 2019 5:33 PM City Council No Sleeping on Main Beach PLEASE! Dear City Council Members:    Please, if for nothing but sanitation and noise reasons, DO NOT allow camping on Santa Cruz beaches. That  area should be clean, free of needles, alcohol and drug paraphernalia and available to hard working, tax  paying citizens who want to enjoy the beach on their day off with family and friends. It’s already unpleasant  just driving into town from the freeway with all the homeless people. Most Locals are forced to avoid the  downtown area as it’s overrun with homeless who threaten you if you don’t give them money.     Perhaps you should consider what Asheville, Oregon provides for its homeless population!? They offer  HOUSING and FOOD to the homeless IN EXCHANGE FOR for city WORK. Picking up trash, graffiti clean up,  clean the Hiways and public restrooms to earn your meals and shelter. Everyone benefits from this and those  who don’t want to be a part of the community through work, LEAVE!    I was born and raised in Santa Cruz as were my parents and grandparents and it breaks my heart to see my  city in ruin.     Annette Mungai Sullivan  Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Claudia Kemper Monday, September 09, 2019 5:30 PM City Council Camping on beaches Dear council members, I urge you to take the appreciate steps so that the camping on main beach and ALL the city affiliated beaches stops. We have to protect ALL of our beaches from becoming a dangerous camp ground. ALL the beaches connected to our city should be included. Please protect every beach you can protect! Thank you for all you do! Claudia Kemper 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Nels Pearson Monday, September 09, 2019 5:02 PM City Council Main Beach Drug & Camping As a former police sergeant with 30 years experience I ask that you attempt to control illicit drug & alcohol  activity on the main beach by setting a 10 pm curfew  & no overnight camping.     We should not have to ask for basic policies to protect our children and families from human feces, drugs,  broken bottles and needles.     As these issues continue to plague Santa Cruz we will see a continued negative impact on tourism and quality  of life.     I have lived here for 31 years, above the main beach, and continue to watch the degradation of Santa Cruz  from a variety of anti social behaviors.     Nels “Pete” Pearson  Special Investigations Unit  Ret. Santa Clara Police Dept.   200 W Cliff Drive, unit 9  Santa Cruz, Ca 95060    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: James Allen Monday, September 09, 2019 4:58 PM City Council Message from James P. Allen regarding transient camping on public property and City streets Honorable Council Members, It is with great respect that I express profound support for curtailing temporary “camping” sites as a solution to the challenges of the homeless; those that have been displaced through misfortune or circumstances beyond their control. The current population of “campers” and semi-permanent motor home inhabitants appears to be comprised of those choosing to be “homeless”, without permanent residence and the costs and responsibilities associated. Several of you continue to support Measure M through your actions and the Camp Ross philosophy; allowing transients, criminals, drug addicts and vagrants to occupy our public beaches, city parks and streets. Please reverse these trends through your actions. Respectfully, James P. Allen James P. Allen Registered Consulting Arborist #390 Certified Urban Forester #120 Board Certified Master Arborist #625B Qualified Tree Risk Assessor 119 Surfside Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831.426.6603 office 831.234.7739 mobile __________________________________________________________________________ This communication (including any attachments) may contain privileged or confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this communication and/or shred the materials and any attachments and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this communication, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. Thank you.    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Bonnie Faraola Monday, September 09, 2019 8:27 PM City Council Santa Cruz I am a born and raised 72yr resident of Santa Cruz.  I have not gone downtown much in the past 10+ years.  It  is intimidating and combative.  Now our beach are becoming this way with 24hour camping.  How can all this  possible help bring in tourist, not to mention the locals  Santa Cruz counts on for tax revenue! I am sure you  have heard it over and over so I hope you are listening!  Don't let this happen!  No camping and Yes curfew!      Thank you,   Bonnie Faraola     1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sheri Baxter Tuesday, September 10, 2019 9:03 AM City Council Camping on beach Dear City Council, It is unfortunate that you can’t move people off the beach for camping, when there is already a no camping rule. I realize you have to go around it the current rule and situation with a curfew on the beach. Our family enjoys the Boardwalk movie nights and we usually walk the beach back to our Westside neighborhood. I absolutely don’t want people camping and thrashing our beach and waterways. I will walk on the pavement and cut my losses of beach walk past 11pm just to make this curfew law work. Please do something, Ross camp location was better than main beach! Sheri Baxter Photos attached (no camping with camping) Public bathroom at beach SCPD ticketing dog when campers right there 1 Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Emily Mason Tuesday, September 10, 2019 8:59 AM City Council Beach Camping Ban To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to you in full support of your proposed ban on overnight beach camping in Santa Cruz. My kids play on these beaches, participate in and support city-run programs like SC Junior Guards, and we run a business on the Santa Cruz Wharf. As a mother in Santa Cruz, who was born and raised here, it is simply heartbreaking to watch what our crown jewel - the beach front - is becoming. There should be a lifetime ban on our City beaches. Be efficient. No sunset, no curfew. I would expand the use of the term Sanctuary City to also protecting the Sanctuary of Monterey Bay from the potential of a hazmat situation. Thank you, Emily (Caviglia) Mason 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tracy Cozy Tuesday, September 10, 2019 8:54 AM City Council Curfew - Tents on beaches Hello,    I’m writing about the concern I have down at main beach and the homeless tent camping that is currently  allowed.    My daughter plays volleyball there and it is an absolute problem to have the homeless setting up their shelter  on the beach. Most whom have drug problems do not clean up after their needle usage and garbage. I’ve  personally see this due to us having to be at the beach by 7 AM for tournament play as these folks are waking  up, then leave and not care about cleaning up their garbage/needles in the sand.    It’s unbelievable to me that we need to write a letter to have a curfew to stop this because it seems as this  would be is common sense to NOT have the homeless sleeping on our beaches to litter needles etc, but it  apparently is not common sense, therefore we ask you to please set a curfew and not allow people to sleep  overnight on our beaches.    Thank you,  Tracy Cozy  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: greeneadr@aol.com Tuesday, September 10, 2019 8:50 AM City Council No camping on the beach Dear councilmembers I urge you to empower the police to remove homeless campers from the beach. not only tourists but for us , our kids & grandkids The beaches are our signature draw for The campers have shown graphically (see: Ross Camp) that they cannot and do not clean up after themselves. They have shown graphically that a high percentage are IV drug users. They leave behind garbage that gets into the wind and then the ocean and the strees. They leave behind needles that others may step on or prick themselves on. Some of this population has been shown to be HIV positive or have Hepatitis. It risks the general population to let camping continue by this population. The beach is a place to viist. It is not a campground. Please please please say NO to camping on the beach. Let the police DO something thank you Jennifer Greene 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Ashley Conway Tuesday, September 10, 2019 8:17 AM City Council Maggie Duncan-Merrell FYI Council members,    Please put in place a curfew for main beach to get the campers out! Where do you think they are going to the  bathroom in the middle of the night?  You KNOW they are not going to any restroom nearby.    I am a life long resident and am appalled at the conditions of our city right now.    Ashley Conway      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: John Ledingham Tuesday, September 10, 2019 8:17 AM City Council STOP Homeless Camping on the Beach!!! Hello,    Our family just saw the article about the homeless folks camping on the beach. What struck us was the note  that the police are “powerless” to do anything about it. We have NEVER lived in an area that facilitates this  behavior the way Santa Cruz does. You are creating an unsafe environment for our kids and that’s not okay. If  you can’t get your arms around this issue, you need to allow others to step in and resolve it ‐ allowing the  homeless community to camp on the beach (Needles? Human waste?) is basically just admitting that you’ve  either given up, that you support people living this way. Do you think anyone wants to visit our city when they  know that it’s out of our control?    Please fix this! Your community is counting on you and, so far, we haven’t seen much hope that you can  resolve this horrible situation.     Regards,    John    —    John Ledingham    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Bonnie Friedenbach Tuesday, September 10, 2019 7:45 AM City Council Please enforce Main Beach overnight Camping Ban! This is a blight on our beautiful beach and we need to enforce No Camping. Please do the right thing and clean  up our beaches from the drugs and everything else. We can do better and we should!   Thank you!  Bonnie Friedenbach     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jesse Bausell Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:09 AM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council Homeless Encampment on the Beach Dear City Council, As I Santa Cruz Resident, I implore you to enforce the camping ban on our city's beaches. Allowing homeless and transients to camp on our beaches is inconsistent with the California Coastal Act, and in many ways, more destructive than large coastal development projects (which I would also oppose). As an avid swimmer and ocean enthusiast, I care deeply about the cleanliness (and safety) of our beaches, as well as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). Opening our treasured beaches to individuals who, as a result of their own drug use and/or mental illness, are unable to follow the most basic behavioral and sanitation standards, is incompatible with public use and public safety. Sincerely, Jesse Bausell 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: ttorchid1@aim.com Tuesday, September 10, 2019 12:52 AM City Council Beach Camping Please, Please, Please offer up some housing/shelters for the many homeless people here in Santa Cruz, CA. Please protect our beaches and people from the inevitable consequences of under managed and over run camping. We are still recovering from the Ross encampment, PLEASE DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. Santa Cruz Residents 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Debbie stefanko Monday, September 09, 2019 11:39 PM City Council No overnight camping on beaches What are you thinking? Why would you even consider overnight camping on beaches when you saw what a mess the homeless made on hyw.1 and River St. Stop the madness! Respectively, Debbie Stefanko Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Julia Wurst Monday, September 09, 2019 11:01 PM City Council No camping on the boardwalk To whom it may concern:    Please do not allow camping on or near the boardwalk! Santa Cruz is a fun town for residents and tourists  alike and this will ruin this lovely town for those who wish to enjoy it. Please make alternative plans for those  without shelter so they may rehabilitate in a more private respectful way.     Many thanks,  Julia Wurst    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jessica Middour Monday, September 09, 2019 10:30 PM City Council; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Drew Glover; Donna Meyers; Justin Cummings; Martine Watkins; Sandy Brown Please Clean Up Main Beach! Dear Santa Cruz City Council, Please use your authority to clean up Main Beach at the Boardwalk, by removing the camping homeless population there. I am a longtime 3rd grade teacher at Del Mar, and own a home on the upper west side. I bike to my school in Live Oak almost every day, and have noticed a big surge in trash, drugged out people, and other unsafe activities in the area since more homeless campers have take up illegal residence on the beach. Please protect our neighborhoods and beaches from this heavy-drug using, unstable group of illegal campers! This situation is NOT acceptable, and it’s just a matter of time before something terrible happens. We need you to do your job and represent the majority of SC: lawful tax payers who just want to enjoy our lovely beaches as we live, work & relax in our community. Thank you. Sincerely, Jessica Middour Santa Cruz City resident, homeowner, & local public school teacher -Jessica Middour 3rd Grade/Room 10 Del Mar Elementary School Santa Cruz, CA. 95062 (831) 477-2063 x208 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Brooke Monday, September 09, 2019 10:13 PM City Council Main beach curfew I am in full support of a curfew on not only main beach but any of our cities beaches. Born and raised on the  west side of SANTA CRUZ, I have spent my entire life at this beach. Playing beach volleyball and doing junior  lifeguards as a kid and teenager, and as a sun worshipper in my older age. The beach has now become a  dumping ground of human waste and garbage. What do we think this is doing to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary?  I understand people need a place to sleep but this is absolutely not the answer for so many reasons I don’t  know where to begin. Please pull it together council and make a rational decision for once, and vote for a  curfew and end this now.     Cheers!    Brooke Crumpton  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Erin Torr Monday, September 09, 2019 10:11 PM City Council NO CAMPING ON MAIN BEACH To those of you making policy for Santa Cruz:  I have been a tax paying homeowner for over thirty years in our wonderful town. My husband and I have  worked our butts off and have made huge sacrifices to live and raise our family here. We love our community  and have contributed to its health in countless ways.   We DO NOT SUPPORT in ANY WAY the camping of any person, homeless or otherwise, on our beaches. If  camping were allowed on our beaches, why would any of us have been killing ourselves to pay mortgages and  steep rents here?? Our teens could’ve just camped on the beach and saved us a lot of money. You know that  would be illegal and ridiculous.   It’s worse to allow non tax paying people to simply plop a tent down at our beaches, creating waste, fire  danger, potential drug paraphernalia, and more. It’s dangerous, unseemly, unsanitary and completely unfair. It  puts our youth at risk in multiple ways, creating a host of new problems.     We can be a compassionate community without being an enabling, dysfunctional group who forfeits our  town’s beauty and safety.   LISTEN TO YOUR TAX PAYERS. DO THE RIGHT THING.   WE CAN DO BETTER!!!!!   Sincerely,  Erin Torr, MA, MFT    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: kathy Monday, September 09, 2019 9:35 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council No Camping on Our Beaches /remove camps Dear Council Members, Please do not destroy our beaches by allowing over night camping. Enforce no camping. businesses, and our children need you to do your job. Tourism dollars, We can't have our community be bullied by transients. Push homeless facilities to be on the agenda of THE COUNTY to solve. They can build proper locations with services that HELP people and not just provide a place for people to live in squaller. Build something by Dimeo that requires drug free, check-in/out times, and add a shuttle service by extending a bus route to enable people to get to services. Not all people can live in a beach community. Stop destroying our town. Provide the police budget and support to enforce the laws - like all the towns in our area do. Do your job. Regards, Kathleen Nix Delaware Ave 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jay & Carolyn Jackson Monday, September 09, 2019 9:11 PM City Council Main Beach Public Access Policy Dear City Council ‐ please do right by the residents of this town, to protect our beach, our health, and our  safety. There are good reasons we should not allow people to camp unrestricted on our main beach. It should  be obvious. I simply ask that you provide some basic sanity in this town that rapidly seems to be going in the  wrong direction. There are so many other areas of our town that have spiraled into grunge, sadly. Please put a  stop to those who have decided to make our public beach their own campground. It’s absurd and I hope you  can take the action needed restore some sanity.    Jay Jackson  Part‐time resident since 1970  Full‐time resident since 1989  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Susan da Roza Monday, September 09, 2019 9:03 PM City Council Sleeping on the beach     Sent from my iPhone  I grew up in Santa Cruz. I lived on Mission drive . My father had an insurance company with Bob Sachaua and a  few other men , Doug Austin And Mr. Rittenhouse . I remember going to the Santa Cruz jr. life guards and we  had so much fun . The beach was so clean and safe . I still love the boardwalk . I’m crazy in shock , Santa Cruz is  so stupid to let the nuts take our wonderful,beautiful  Life style family run . Business run . Safe place . Go to a  tent city.     1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Celeste Faraola Perie Monday, September 09, 2019 8:55 PM City Council please do not allow camping on the beach!!!! This is from 7am this morning felt very unsafe working out with my friend   Got harassed for money  one guys pants where down below his butt  so gross, so wrong, so ridic!  Do the right thing and give the Police a law to cite these people and get them off the beach!  Put something in place to help them and point these people in other directions besides our beaches and  neighborhoods!!!    We are getting the reputation for ANYTHING GOES! Crime, homelessness , garbage, feces!    Ughghghghg  Make it Stop!    Sincerely,  Celeste        To help protect y our priv acy , Microsoft Office prev ented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help prot ect y our priv acy , Micr osof t Offic e prev ente d auto mati To help prot ect y our priv acy , Micr osof t Offi ce prev ente d auto mati To help prot ect y our priv acy , Micr osof t Offic e prev ente d auto mati 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Ted Cheeseman Monday, September 09, 2019 8:54 PM City Council Renee DeAngelis Protecting our beaches Dear Mayor and City Council: Our beaches are a huge part of what make Santa Cruz so special, so desirable, so beautiful. As a West Cliff resident, it is painful to see Main Beach turning into a pit of waste — waste that all too often ends up in the sea. Regarding the Main Beach Public Access policy that the City Council will be considering on Tuesday evening, I urge you to implement a policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach only during the hours of one hour before sunrise until midnight. We know that homelessness has no easy answers. A line that must be held is keeping beaches free of trash and drug paraphernalia, which right now are often found on the shoreline. These beaches by day are much in demand by runners, walkers and swimmers, and in summer months are where the City Parks and Recreation Department hosts the Junior Lifeguard Program. Law abiding public must be able to feel safe recreating here and are worried about the environmental impact on our oceans and sea life. Enacting a curfew on Main Beach is a necessary step to curb the illegal activity present right now, and making the beach a safe and enjoyable place for the entire community to enjoy again. I urge you to approve the curfew. Thank you sincerely, Ted Cheeseman Resident, Lighthouse Cowells — Ted Cheeseman teo@cheesemans.com Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris The best in wildlife safaris — www.cheesemans.com 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kathy Isonio Monday, September 09, 2019 8:48 PM City Council Beach curfew  Dear City Council Members,    Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary  measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach.   It would be prudent to impose this curfew on all of  our City beaches so that encampments don't start popping up on Seabright Beach, Natural Bridges, the Wilder  Beaches, etc.    Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law‐abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to  start supporting public safety measures.   You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to  become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti‐social, destructive and obscene behavior.       Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come  here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our  green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires.      Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp.  Please give our law enforcement officers  and rangers some tools to prevent this.   If you don't, you will likely be inviting some very expensive lawsuits  and pretty much guarantee that at least 2 of you will be recalled in the very near future.       Sincerely,   K. Isonio    Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: George Leonard Monday, September 09, 2019 8:46 PM City Council Curfew on Main Beach now Dear Santa Cruz city Council:    You must not let Santa Cruz Main Beach become Ross Camp 2. Please take decisive action now to establish a  curfew to prevent all people in Santa Cruz, regardless of whether they suffer homelessness or not, from  sleeping on the beach.     Main beach is literally the single most important piece of real estate in the city of Santa Cruz, driving the entire  tourist economy. The fastest way to destroy the city and its budget is to drive away the tourists by allowing  this to continue. Don’t wait until there are hundreds of people sleeping on the beach before you take action.    Remember the old adage: “those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it”.     Let’s be sure this is not the beginning of Ross Camp 2.     Thank you.     George Leonard  Westside, Santa Cruz    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  While this is a very smart Iphone, please still pardon my typos and misspellings.......thanks. George  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Nancy Repetski Monday, September 09, 2019 8:42 PM City Council Approve temporary measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach Dear City Council Members, Please be responsible stewards of our beaches and our marine sanctuary by voting to approve this temporary measure restricting overnight camping on Main Beach. Please be responsible advocates for the voting, law-abiding, tax paying citizens of Santa Cruz that need you to start supporting public safety measures. You are losing the faith of your constituents by allowing this city to become an open air asylum with no consequences for anti-social, destructive and obscene behavior. Please be fiduciaries for this City by not allowing our tourism industry to be decimated by those that come here to live without rules or social contracts, that have no respect for themselves or others, and pollute our green spaces with human waste, drug paraphernalia, rubbish and illegal campfires. Please do not allow our coastline to become another Ross Camp. Please give our law enforcement officers and rangers some tools to prevent this. Thank you 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Renee DeAngelis Monday, September 09, 2019 8:41 PM City Council Main Beach Public Access Polisy Dear Mayor and Council: I am writing regarding the Main Beach Public Access policy that Council will be considering on Tuesday evening. I urge Council to implement a policy that authorizes the public to use the dry sand portion of Main Beach only during the hours of one hour before sunrise until midnight. There is an epidemic of trash and drug paraphernalia, often found on the shoreline where daily there are runners, walkers & swimmers, and in summer months where the City Parks and Recreation Department hosts the Junior Lifeguard Program. Myself and my neighbors do not feel safe recreating here and are worried about the environmental impact on our oceans and sea life. Enacting a curfew on Main Beach will undoubtedly curb the illegal activity that is occurring on Main Beach and make the beach a safe and enjoyable place for the entire community to enjoy again. I urge you to approve the curfew. Respectfully, Renee DeAngelis Resident, Lighthouse Cowells 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sarah Deworken Monday, September 09, 2019 8:35 PM City Council Beach curfew   City Council,  Please enforce no camping on our city beaches. I have lived in Santa Cruz for 61 years, since I was 1 and  enjoyed the beach every summer not worrying about stepping on needles and human waste. Those who are  camping there now could care less about the trash, needles and human waste they leave behind. They don't  have  respect for the beach or any of us hard working tax paying citizens.  My brothers, children and now  grandchildren have all done Junior Lifeguards and I can’t imagine that they will be allowed to if this is kept up.  I have a granddaughter that already stepped on a needle at a local park and had to be tested many times. The  beach used to be a safe place for our local children to hang out with their friends and play volleyball but they  aren’t allowed to right now.   Please change this for our children.   Thank you,  Sarah Deworken   Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Amy Radovan Tuesday, September 10, 2019 9:46 AM City Council No Tents on the Beach Hello I am writing in support of a ban to tents on the beach. I am a 25 year resident of the City of Santa Cruz. I am distraught at the state of our city. Solutions need to be found. Do not allow people to "camp" on our beaches. Thank You. Amy Radovan 168 Plateau Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95060 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: sarah schimmel Tuesday, September 10, 2019 9:52 AM City Council Homeless camping To the City Council,  Please consider the long term effects of having a homeless camp on one of the most visited beaches of Santa  Cruz. I am having a hard time understanding how this can be a good solution. It seems that the potential of  losing tourism revenue for the city would be a huge concern.   Sarah          1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Nick Meyer Tuesday, September 10, 2019 11:05 AM City Council Main beach No overnight camping, fighting, urinating, defficating, drugging on my child’s Jr guard beach.  If this continues  and someone gets stuck, it on you.  Say no.    Thank you  Nick Meyer  Westside home owner    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Benjamin Pink Tuesday, September 10, 2019 11:20 AM City Council Main Beach – Public Access Policy 9/10/2019 Dear Council Members, I am writing today to urge you to vote "yes" on the item on tonight's agenda, "Main Beach – Public Access Policy". We need to reaffirm publicly that the public beach is to be used during daylight hours and is not meant for camping. Camping on public beaches is a nuisance and can have significant environmental impact. I urge your yes vote on creating a policy that reaffirms that there is to be no overnight camping on our beaches. thank you Benjamin Pink 1011 Windham St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Melanie Asnis <4masnis@gmail.com> Tuesday, September 10, 2019 11:25 AM City Council Main Beach Hello, I am writing to you as a concerned long time resident of the city of Santa Cruz. Please implement the Main Beach Public Access policy which would place a limit on the hours of use to the public. Thank you, Melanie Asnis 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Denise Parodi Tuesday, September 10, 2019 11:25 AM City Council Public Access Curfew for Santa Cruz City Beaches Dear Councilmembers, I am writing to you to ask that the council vote unamimously to implement a curfew for the Santa Cruz beaches. Camping on our beaches will present a public health hazard and should be left for families to enjoy without fear of human waste, garbage and syringes. As someone who has lived in Santa Cruz my entire life it saddens me to see the current state of this city. I no longer feel comfortable going to the downtown area and now the beaches as well. Please vote for a curfew and protect the beaches, There has to be another solution. Thank you for your time Denise Parodi 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: sandra wells Tuesday, September 10, 2019 12:04 PM City Council Main beach camping-YES to curfew I moved to Santa Cruz 30 years ago this month and have made it my home ever since.  Both of my kids  participated in the Junior Lifeguard program and many of the other Parks and Rec programs, many of which  take place at main beach.  Main beach is one of our communities greatest assets and it creates significant  value for the local economy. I've been down to the beach several times over the past month and noticed with  growing concern the increasing number of tents.  There's no question that it hurts the businesses in that area  and deters locals and tourists alike from letting their children play in the sand or surf anywhere near the tents,  for good reason.       I don't think any reasonable person in this community can argue with any credibility that a congregation of  unregulated campers living in a common area that is not designed or resourced for camping won't have severe  negative impacts on that area.  We need look back only a few months to the Ross camp area.  Per local news  reporting the remnants of that camp included tons of trash that included a large volume of used syringes and  other bio‐hazardous waste.  Is that something we can allow to happen to main beach?    I understand that for complex and varied reasons many of these individuals will put their tents somewhere no  matter how many shelter beds are available, but it makes no sense to allow them to choose a location that will  result in such harm to our local economy and prevents the majority of the community from using this  important community resource.  It is a ridiculously inefficient use of the land and failure to take action to  address this now would be a failure to perform the council's duties as elected officials.     Please vote in favor of the proposed curfew tonight and support the police in enforcing that curfew.      Sandra Wells  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: marla forsgren Tuesday, September 10, 2019 1:28 PM City Council Camping on main beach Dear council members,       I wish to contribute my opinion regarding the camping proposition on the main beach in Santa Cruz. I  oppose that idea very much.        The beaches on our coast should be enjoyed by all of us. They are a treasure. Please keep them that way.       Allowing overnight camping will lead to less tourism, and become a blight on the city itself.       I have been coming to those beaches since I was a little girl, over 50 years ago. Please respect the  environment , as well as the visiting public, by refusing this proposition.    Thank you for listening,  Marla Forsgren  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jenny OLeary Tuesday, September 10, 2019 1:28 PM City Council YES to a curfew on Main Beach, Santa Cruz Honorable Council Members, Please vote YES on instating and enforcing a curfew on the main Beach of Santa Cruz. It is not a good idea for anyone to camp overnight on the beach. Allowing people to just "live" on the beach potentially harms our environment and economy. -Danger to the individuals staying overnight from ocean winds and tides, and other environmental threats. -Danger to the natural environment from campers' trash and human waste (yes, even pee). Our beaches are part of the National Marine Sanctuary! -Not a solution for unhoused people over time. -Not a good idea for (housed) visitors/tourists who want to skip getting a hotel or sanctioned campground for the night. -Turn-off to tourists who are trying to come to spend money and feed our local economy. -Makes it harder for City and other crews to clean up after the people who leave trash and other items after their day at the beach. - We cannot, as a community, help people if the situation is potentially ruining our ability to bring in the (tourism and retail) money that (in part) goes to helping people find homes and/or solutions to the problems that keep them unhoused. It is a huge bummer that people are without homes in our community. It's a hugely complicated issue as you know. Life-long Santa Cruz residents like myself want to remain open-hearted to all people who add to the fabric of our town, but letting these encampments flourish feels like we are being bullied, somehow. As for overnight camping on the beach--short or long-term--just because there is not a strict law against something, doesn't mean it's right. The answer to the question, should the town allow an overnight campsite village to grow on the main beach, should be an easy "No." Jenny O'Leary 215 Almar Avenue Santa Cruz 510-325-1887 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Donna Churchill-Moro Tuesday, September 10, 2019 12:08 PM City Council Camping on the beach must stop NOW..PLEASE HELP Unacceptable!! Needles, garbage, human waste. No way can this go on. Yes, tourists make a mess, but at least they pay to come here and use the proper toilets, and dine here too . How embarrassing that my friend that was forced to move away from here because she and her hard working husband could no longer afford our area. They left for Louisiana. She told me yesterday about the sad article in the san fran. Chronicle what a scary town we are. GREAT!! I was born and raised here. My father was a police officer here. I love it here, but it's really going to pot in many ways. So sad. Where is the leadership? Our police chief seems like a very nice man and cares. But how can sleeping on the beach be ok and legal? I know it's a huge problem, homelessness. I feel for the mentally ill and veterans. The rest need to move on. Donna churchill-moro. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Rose Marie McNair Tuesday, September 10, 2019 11:56 AM City Council Main Beach--Public Access Policy Agenda 9/10/19 Importance: High Honorable Mayor Watkins and Councilmembers,     The Main Beach in Santa Cruz is a beautiful icon—but that might just go away if we allow specific laws to be  ignored.  Make no mistake, the State of California Health and Safety laws exist for the sake of protecting the  public.  Ignoring those laws, is not only dangerous, it will produce anarchy—which is the direction we seem to be  going.  There are laws about overnight camping for a reason—public health and safety.   When there is NO enforcement,  it will continue to grow worse, much as the Ross Camp.  It could reach dangerous proportions, where outbreaks of  terrible diseases become prevalent.  Cholera in Santa Cruz?  Really?     There are two main issues that need to be dealt with: 1. Health and Safety—AND—2. Freedom.  John Locke said: “The  end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.  For in all the states of created beings  capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.”      It is important that the focus be on the creation of housing as our pre‐imminent goal!  Look at places where taking  immediate action to create housing is possible, and a community can be healed.  Search for those examples—like Santa  Barbara, who recently accomplished a development in a matter of months not years or decades!  Building regulations  can be followed even if it occurs in a short time. Find out where communities find success in making things  happen.   Let’s do it!   Thank you for your consideration,   Rose Marie McNair, Broker/REALTOR®   Housing Advocate         Rose Marie McNair, Broker   McNair Real Properties   1715‐42nd Ave. “B”  Capitola, CA 95010   Realrose@norcalbroker.com   831 212 4906 Cell   831 476 2209  Fax   CalBRE#00547533    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Melanie Asnis <4masnis@gmail.com> Tuesday, September 10, 2019 11:25 AM City Council Main Beach Hello, I am writing to you as a concerned long time resident of the city of Santa Cruz. Please implement the Main Beach Public Access policy which would place a limit on the hours of use to the public. Thank you, Melanie Asnis 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Denise Parodi Tuesday, September 10, 2019 11:25 AM City Council Public Access Curfew for Santa Cruz City Beaches Dear Councilmembers, I am writing to you to ask that the council vote unamimously to implement a curfew for the Santa Cruz beaches. Camping on our beaches will present a public health hazard and should be left for families to enjoy without fear of human waste, garbage and syringes. As someone who has lived in Santa Cruz my entire life it saddens me to see the current state of this city. I no longer feel comfortable going to the downtown area and now the beaches as well. Please vote for a curfew and protect the beaches, There has to be another solution. Thank you for your time Denise Parodi 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: caryn machado Tuesday, September 10, 2019 1:53 PM City Council Please enact legislation to prohibit camping on the Main beach Santa Cruz City CouncilmembersI do understand that providing housing for the homeless is a persistent challenge for our city/county, but allowing people to camp on our main beach is not the answer. This is not only creating a health and environmental hazard, but can and does drive tourist revenue away from our area and creates an even bigger problem. Please work with the County Board of Supervisors to consider possible solutions to chronic homelessness that supports people in a positive way rather than enabling them, and please prohibit camping on our beaches or other areas heavily utilized by tourists. We need to keep those areas vibrant and clean for the benefit of all. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely; Caryn Machado Santa Cruz City Resident Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Osanna Bertsch Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:26 PM City Council Main Beach Curfew Dear City Council members, I regularly walk near Main Beach in Santa Cruz, enjoying the River, and our community, and have been alarmed to see the beach become a campsite. I urge you to implement the beach curfew to help with public safety. Thank you! Osanna Bertsch 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Stacy Phelps Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:37 PM City Council Support of Main Beach Curfew Hi, I wish to voice my support of the proposed Main Beach Public Access/Curfew. I have strong concern over the environmental and safety impact the current conditions are making. I've personally seen campers defecating in the sand and would not be surprised that there are needles hidden in the sand. Looking forward to a resolve, Stacy Phelps Soquel, CA     Main Beach – Public Access Policy (PR)       Resolution directing staff to:   1) Implement a Main Beach Public Access Policy authorizing the public’s use of the dry sand portion of the beach during the hours of one hour before sunrise to midnight with the provision that the dry sand portion of the beach may be used at all hours to access the wet sand portion of the beach and with the understanding that the wet sand portion of the beach will remain open to the public 24 hours a day in accordance with all currently applicable rules for beach use (e.g. no camping, no alcohol, no smoking etc.) and for all uses by members of the public for which the beach may currently be used (e.g. fishing, jogging, kayak, paddle board and surfboard launching and landing, walking, meditating, swimming, sightseeing, nature observation, special events etc.);     2) Direct that the Main Beach Public Access Policy shall automatically sunset six months from the date of its implementation unless before its sunset date, and after a public hearing and a review of then-current circumstances as well as the efficacy of the policy during its implementation in counteracting the negative public health and safety problems the policy was intended to address, the City Council directs that the policy, or a similar modified policy, remain in effect for an additional specified, limited period of time not to exceed six months; and     3) Declare that the documented conditions requiring implementation of the Main Beach Public Access Policy constitute a public nuisance.   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Marcella Moran Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:35 PM City Council In Favor of Curfew on Main Beach - No camping Dear Council Members, Should camping on Main Beach continue to be permitted we will be facing an environmental, safety and community disaster. As a parent I am concerned we will lose a community treasure and as a business owner I am worried that our customers will be driven away. Throughout the year Main beach is filled with wonderful programs for our community’s youth: volleyball, junior guards, beach baseball and beach camp. My son’s absolute favorite thing to do in the summer is to attend the Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Beach Baseball camp on Main Beach. He has attended for 6 years now and hopes to be a counselor. This summer for the first time he was frightened while at camp. While playing a beach whiffle ball game during his camp session, he and his friends were yelled at by people camping on the beach. He does not want to walk by or near any of the tents. Our children are increasingly feeling unsafe in areas designed for community recreation. We find needles in parks, feces in little league dugouts and erratic frightening people. Environmentally, what happened at the Ross Street Camp cannot happen on our beaches. It would be outrageous to allow any amount of contaminated trash to be discarded into the ocean. I am also deeply concerned of the numbers of needles already found on Main Beach. Allowing camping will greatly increase the number of needles and the likelihood of someone stepping barefoot on a needle while at the beach. We are so very fortunate to live on the coast, it is our responsibility to keep it safe, clean and welcoming. As a business owner who has locations in both the beach area and downtown, I can tell you first hand that a homeless presence has an immediate negative affect on business. The reason is simply that customers, locals and tourists, do not feel safe being near homeless camp areas. As a result, they avoid storefronts located near them. I urge you to pass the curfew ordinance for Main Beach tonight. It is vital to the environment, health and safety of our beach community. Thank you, 1 Marcella Moran Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Cheryl Kopf Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:44 PM City Council Beach camping Please enforce curfew on beaches !!     It’s a difficult issue ‐ thank you for your work on it !    Cheryl Kopf   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Marcella Moran Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:55 PM City Council From a child's perspective Hi, My favorite thing to do in the summer is beach baseball. I have been going to this camp since I was 6. This year there were people living in tents where we were playing. One of them yelled at us. I can't imagine if the beach turned into the homeless camp that was by the freeway. I would be scared to go to the beach. Please vote for the curfew so people do not ruin the beach. Cash Moran 6th grade 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: MARQ LIPTON Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:00 PM City Council Please support the Main Beach Curfew Please support the Main Beach Curfew. I have worked in the beach area daily for many years. The main beach is a gem of the community and the bay area. Please protect it and support the curfew. Marq Lipton 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Susan D Teague Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:15 PM City Council Please have curfews for Main Beach Hello, I am a concerned employee of a business near the Main Beach. I want to express my concern over allowing uncontrolled beach camping in an area where families should be able to play and wander the beach without concerns about running across drug paraphernalia, trash, and human waste. This beach camping also seems to have increased panhandler traffic in the area. The businesses in the area have worked so hard to keep things clean and safe, and overcome much of the "edginess" that can make Santa Cruz an undesirable vacation or day trip spot for families. I fear that allowing beach camping will quickly erode all the work these businesses have done in this arena. I know having space for the homeless population is an important topic. Please search for other solutions other than allowing camping at the Main Beach. Kind regards, Susan Teague Scotts Valley, CA 1 7 9??j 57;; J42, (gin Wu '7 o? ?Ivy 74?? :3 1: LE 143/3 f; a! jg: #gww 773;}? . ?411; 7 [win-Auk Ray??L 3? c4424? MJng/j Wwev?s gf?df 26! 552.2% :Umign g, 55?;fo {?ij ah 7* .??i?fyf 55. jag/L11? - . w: g? h? 4.4-4 4%4xfrk4 ngx??mx 4.. 4 !4444 . -4 44 4m?44d 04.x ?4l444?444w?Nf4 [.94th ?44444? .4an i . .wE Pill .. ..l4 4 - 444.4439? A4444. . . mi 44 44 .fw I4444ll 4 IfllI II Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Meaghan Campbell-Payne Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:22 PM City Council Yes to CURFEW at Main Beach Hello, I feel compelled to voice my thoughts about the overnight campers on Main Beach. It boggles my mind that the Coastal Commission is not up in arms about this -- How can human waste and garbage not be impacting the marine sanctuary that they are so adamant to protect? I had such high hopes that the River Street camp was just RUMORED to be dump, but NO, when they cleared that area out, it was labeled a BIO-HAZARD. If Main Beach continues to be an overnight camping area, I have no doubt the same hazardous conditions will be in place. Please enact a curfew as a starting point to protect our beaches and bay. Thank you, Meaghan Campbell 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Dianna Ligon Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:20 PM City Council Approve curfew   I am writing to request you vote to support the curfew on the beach    Dianna Ligon  Resident of Santa Cruz    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lara Gafke Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:37 PM City Council Curfew on Main City Council,    I am unable to attend the meeting tonight and would like to voice my vote of being in favor of a curfew on Main Beach.    Thank you,  Lara Gafke        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Eli Weintraub Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:42 PM City Council Beach Camping Santa Cruz City Council members: I have long been frustrated, angry, and scared of the homeless problem in Santa Cruz. I lived, and my family still owns a house, near San Lorenzo park. My walk to work was impacted by the homeless in the park for a long time. The homeless camps on the main beach anger me even more. The beaches in Santa Cruz are sacred to me, and many others. It's important that my family ,and any other family, that wishes to, be able to enjoy clean and safe beaches in Santa Cruz. Please use your position of power on the council to keep our beaches safe and clean, and allow the appropriate authorities to enforce a no-camping ban. Please do this as soon as possible. Eli Weintraub 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: heajin kamalani Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:39 PM City Council Curfew at main beach Dear council members,     Pls vote in a curfew at main beach tonight.  There have been an increasing number of tents camping on our  public beaches.   This should give us all pause for several reasons.      1.   Health risk.  If anyone steps on needles out on the beach and contracts hepatitis or HIV, this would be a  travesty for the person, but also could cost the city if they sued.      The ensuing repercussions of such an event would be huge.  Tourists would cease coming to Santa Cruz  boardwalk and beaches and would cost millions in lost revenue.     Also, I have young kids and they do not like going to main beach anymore because “it can be scary sometimes”  with homeless people accosting them, yelling uncontrollably, etc.     It seems ridiculous that we would get tickets for walking a dog on this beach, yet people are allowed to set up  semi‐permanent residences on our public beaches.     Pls do the right thing and institute a curfew immediately.      Thank you,    Heajin Kamalani MD  Voting citizen, Santa Cruz county resident x20 yrs   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lara Gafke Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:37 PM City Council Curfew on Main City Council,    I am unable to attend the meeting tonight and would like to voice my vote of being in favor of a curfew on Main Beach.    Thank you,  Lara Gafke        1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Eli Weintraub Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:42 PM City Council Beach Camping Santa Cruz City Council members: I have long been frustrated, angry, and scared of the homeless problem in Santa Cruz. I lived, and my family still owns a house, near San Lorenzo park. My walk to work was impacted by the homeless in the park for a long time. The homeless camps on the main beach anger me even more. The beaches in Santa Cruz are sacred to me, and many others. It's important that my family ,and any other family, that wishes to, be able to enjoy clean and safe beaches in Santa Cruz. Please use your position of power on the council to keep our beaches safe and clean, and allow the appropriate authorities to enforce a no-camping ban. Please do this as soon as possible. Eli Weintraub 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: heajin kamalani Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:39 PM City Council Curfew at main beach Dear council members,     Pls vote in a curfew at main beach tonight.  There have been an increasing number of tents camping on our  public beaches.   This should give us all pause for several reasons.      1.   Health risk.  If anyone steps on needles out on the beach and contracts hepatitis or HIV, this would be a  travesty for the person, but also could cost the city if they sued.      The ensuing repercussions of such an event would be huge.  Tourists would cease coming to Santa Cruz  boardwalk and beaches and would cost millions in lost revenue.     Also, I have young kids and they do not like going to main beach anymore because “it can be scary sometimes”  with homeless people accosting them, yelling uncontrollably, etc.     It seems ridiculous that we would get tickets for walking a dog on this beach, yet people are allowed to set up  semi‐permanent residences on our public beaches.     Pls do the right thing and institute a curfew immediately.      Thank you,    Heajin Kamalani MD  Voting citizen, Santa Cruz county resident x20 yrs   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Jenny Schreck Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:46 PM City Council Main beach camping I am in favor of the proposed curfew and thus camping ban on Main beach. I regularly play volleyball there and my kids go down for guards and volleyball in the summer. The increase homeless activity is making main beach less safe. I am getting increasingly worried about letting my teen daughter bike down to play volleyball without adult supervision. Please help clean up our main beach so that it will once again be welcoming to visitors and local Families. Jenny Schreck, MD 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: anne berne Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:55 PM City Council 25 tents today on Main Beach while we played volleyball Dear City Council of Santa Cruz, I have lived in Santa Cruz since 1992 as a teacher, homeowner and volleyball player. For the past month or so, there have been a growing number of people sleeping on the beach by the volleyball courts on Main Beach. We have watched people fight, shoot up on the stairs and leave garbage bags around on the beach. Today, a man who is obviously not well, was screaming, talking very loudly possibly about his days in the military and commenting on our volleyball game. The four police on ATVs talked to a few of the tent campers but none of them were asked to move. I was very uncomfortable with this man near us yelling about us or about his past life in the military. I feel like this man might get hurt because he is not well, but he probably does not want anyone's help. It just didn't feel like a safe situation. Besides the man NOT keeping to himself I feel that as a tourist town, we are not attracting tourists who are supposed to spend money in our town. If I were visiting, I wouldn't come to the beach because there might be feces, needles or trash around me. I am sensitive to people who don't have homes, but the public beach doesn't seem to be a place to house people if we are a tourist town that wants to attract people who want to vacation here. I am not sure when the time is that the city will agree that the public beach is not the place to ouse 25 tents in front of the volleyball court and another dozen by the river mouth. (Where are the river mouth dwellers using the bathroom?). I hope the time is now before a child or anyone steps on human feces or a needle on the beach. I feel like we may have to wear shoes on our beloved Main Beach so that we can avoid these issues. Let's find a better camping spot for those needing homes besides the Most Prime Real Estate in Santa Cruz, which is Main Beach. Thank you, Anne Berne 831-566-0299 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Robynne Blume Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:48 PM City Council Please do not implement a curfew for Main Beach Hello, I am writing in opposition to a curfew to the dry sand portion of the Main Beach. The City Council is set to vote on this curfew tonight and I want to make it clear that I consider such a curfew inhumane and unnecessary. The curfew as suggested is tailored toward removing the tents of those who camp on the beach because they have nowhere else to go. It is clear to every Santa Cruz resident that our community is in a housing crisis. Rents are soaring, wages cannot keep up, and many Santa Cruz residents find themselves with no homes and no safe place to spend the night. When homeless Santa Cruz residents create spaces for themselves, such as the camp in San Lorenzo park or Camp Ross, those campsites are eventually destroyed by the city. Getting rid of an encampment does nothing but displaces the people who live there, forcing them to find another location. The housing crisis is not being addressed by these measures. Instead, the existence of people who cannot afford homes is criminalized. Do not pass measures such as this beach curfew that will not solve the underlying problems. Instead, please focus the City Council's resources on creating housing and shelters so that no Santa Cruz resident is forced to find a location to camp for the night. Sincerely, Robynne Blume 549 Bellevue St. Unit B Santa Cruz CA 95060 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Donaven Staab Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:00 PM City Council Yes on Main Beach Curfew Dear  Santa Cruz City Council,    Please move forward and approve a curfew on the Santa Cruz Main Beach in order to stop the overnight tent  camping by the homeless.  Thank you.    I hope that there will be special event permits available for the Boardwalk to allow overnight campouts on the  beach.  This would be fun for people and help with Santa Cruz tourism.    All the best,  Donaven Staab  305 McCormick Ave  Santa Cruz, CA 95010  (831)234‐1827  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mara Alverson Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:22 PM City Council Beaches and the homeless I feel that the curfew the Council is considering for the main boardwalk beach should be imposed for all city beaches. Please amend the proposal being considered today to implement a comprehensive curfew. Thank you, Mara Alverson 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Susan Hughes Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:18 PM City Council NO to Main Beach Santa Cruz Tent & Camping Issue Please record this vote for eliminating main beach camping overnight in Santa Cruz. I am strongly against the city allowing this to occur for the following reasons: 1. Beach Safety - drugs, needles, feces, urine, trash, unsafe people yelling, cursing on beach o The beach is a family place for small children and visitors to enjoy 2. As already proven at Ross Camp once this is allowed it will grow to out of hand numbers 3. Negatively affects tourism and visitors coming to our town to enjoy the beauty of our beaches 4. Affects local enjoyment of our area and quality of life 5. Seems illogical that you can't have a dog off-leash but hundreds of people can camp there and do drugs, pee, poop, litter, and ruin the area for all others Please put into policy the night curfew (no camping) that is place at Cowell's! Thank you! Susan Hughes Cell (831)588-7564 Hughesy@sbcglobal.net 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: tina butler Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:15 PM City Council writing in support of a curfew at Main Beach Hi City Council, I am a city resident and frequent user of the Main Beach volleyball courts. The current camping situation at Main Beach is concerning. I have witnessed fights between campers, hostile comments from campers to beach goers and volleyball players (with no provocation) and campers urinating on the beach staircases. Camping should not be permitted, and if left unchecked, Main Beach will become Ross Camp by the Sea. Please do something about this. Thanks, Tina Butler -If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about chopping them down? Maybe, if they screamed all the time, for no apparent reason... 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Wanda Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:13 PM City Council tents on Main Beach Dear Council Members,    Please help us remove the tents on Main Beach. I play Volleyball regularly and we have found open knives, needles and  other drug paraphernalia, human waste etc on the court. When you walk down the steps to the sand it smells like pee  often and the fights that break out between the homeless feel more than uncomfortable.    Legal action will be taken by any who will be punctured by  one of these needles. It is not only a public nuisance but also  a public safety and sanitation issue.    I was present when a friend of mine received a ticket, because she brought her dog, but then it is ok for the homeless to  smoke pot right next to the courts and we have to breath it in!?    My daughters play regularly as well. Would you be comfortable for your children to play in an environment like that?    Thank you for taking action!    Wanda Taylor    Sent from Mail for Windows 10    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tracy Enzweiler Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:02 PM City Council Tent camping on main beach Hi I am one of the volleyballs down at Main. Yes I feel it is getting a little out of control. We are not allowed to bring our dogs because the may use the beach as a toilet and yet I’m sure there is a lot going of that going on right now. There are sooo many families here from all over (since it is a tourist town) and I feel the safety of those families is a concern. The hundreds of people alone that use the beach to play volleyball are in danger of stepping on needles and are subject to diseases as we all are barefoot. I know there are spaces for them down by the Corp yard to pitch a tent. I’m sorry that they are homeless and definitely donate to the cause but I think there needs to be rules for everyone Thanks for reading, Tracy Enzweiler Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: John Palsma Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:25 PM City Council CAMPERS ON BEACH There are campers on the beach for the past month or more. This is cause a huge health and safety hazard on  the beach. My daughter went to the beach with her friends and was approached by some of these campers  asking for money and food. When they saw that it was a group of girls they got very aggressive and my  daughter left the beach with her friends. While she was leaving she almost stepped in a pile of human waste  on the beach. This cannot continue! We pay taxes and vote and have a right to use the beach without fearing  being approached and asked for money or contracting a disease by stepping in human waste.  Please, Please  do something to make our beach safe and clean!    John Palsma   Cell 831‐578‐7950  Please feel free to call me  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Kathryn Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:29 PM City Council Pass a beach curfew. Hear my voice too. Please represent all of us!  Pass the beach curfew. It is a small percentage of people living on the beach and leaving their needles. It is a  small percentage of people who curse at playing children and at me going for a walk. It is irresponsible of the  city to allow a small percentage of people to become tyrants making beach use unsafe and fearful for the  whole community.    Kathryn M Miller  Santa Cruz  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Justin Bates Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:41 PM City Council Main Beach homelessness Hello City Council,    I am emailing in regards of the homelessness issue. I play volleyball there from time to time at 6 am. It is  different for my health when the homeless is waking and smoking. Plus the smell of urine and alcohol isn’t  what I expect my senses to experience while working out while I wake up. I wake up to train before headed to  work. Sometimes the only time of the day I get to exercise with my schedule. I understand that it can be  difficult to solve an issue of this magnitude in our city. But I believe that a curfew at main beach can help the  homeless population stop camping out and trashing the beach.     Thanks,  Justin Bates  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Larkin S Wilson Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:42 PM City Council Ban Camping on Main Beach Dear City Council, I appreciate the difficult task you are up against in finding a solution to the ever growing problem of homeless encampments around the City of Santa Cruz, but I am writing today to express my concern and let you know I am in favor of the proposed curfew and a camping ban on Main beach. PLEASE read on... The campers are there illegally. There should be no exception. I would love to bring my family down there to camp, it would be lovely, but I know it's illegal and I abide by the law. The campers are there because they can do drugs there unlike at many of the shelters. The drugs WILL create a larger problem and could be life threatening to the thousands of people who visit our beaches, kids who do Jr. Guards, locals who walk the beach and/or play volleyball on the courts. If you do not stop this NOW the problem will grow and someone will get hurt. Needles are bound to get burred in the sand where they can't be seen and someone will step on one. Allowing the camping is a blatant disregard for public safety. Again, I am in favor of the proposed curfew and a camping ban on Main beach. Please enforce the law and keep our beaches safe. Sincerely, -Larkin Wilson Santa Cruz Resident 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Patty McNulty Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:44 PM City Council Beach curfew To whom it may concern: I am writing to ask you to vote to enforce a beach curfew on the beaches in the city of Santa Cruz. My children often frequent the beach and I am concerned for their safety. I am concerned that Main beach and the other beaches will continue down the same path as the Ross Camp, with the same unsanitary and unsafe conditions: garbage, needle litter, increased crime, and people defecating where ever they please. The beach is not set up as a camp ground and there are not 24 hour bathrooms or sufficient garbage facilities. My children and other local Santa Cruz children regularly swim, boogie board and surf in the water there and are frequently running barefoot in the sand. Please protect our children. They are your constituents just as much as the homeless and they are a vulnerable population that rely on the adults to make decisions that keep them safe. Please enforce the curfew and think of the youth of Santa Cruz when you make these decisions. Again, they deserve your protection and rely on the adults to make good decisions that protect them and keep them safe. Sincerely, Patty McNulty 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Morgan Henry Ehritt Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:45 PM City Council Tents on Main Beach To Whom it May Concern, I am a coach and teacher in the beautiful Santa Cruz County and I think it is vital for the health of this community that a curfew be imposed on Main Beach to detour the encampments of people from occurring. My biggest problem with this issue is safety. People, locals and tourists, use this beach as a place too enjoy time with their families and make memories that will last them a life time. It is scary to think that a memory a family may take away from an innocent visit to main beach is stepping on a needle that is infected with some disease that their unsettling child must live with for the rest of their lives. If this problem is not taken care of, we, the community of santa cruz, could have another Ross Camp on our hands. -Morgan J. Henry Ehritt Main Beach Volleyball Club Coach mhehritt13@gmail.com (805) 708-0569 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Regina Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:07 PM City Council Camping ban IMG_3857.jpg; ATT00001.txt We literally just came back from Main beach and watched 3 of the 20 plus tent dwellers break every single  one of these ‘rules’!  Last September I walked my dog at 6 AM on his leash on the beach and got a stern warning threatening a  citation if I did it again.  Enough already‐ If I need to Obey the rules so does everyone else!    1 Santa Cruz Mam Beach In order to preserve a safe, family friendly atmosphere, the following restrictions are in effect for the beach and open deck areas: NO ALCOHOL SMOKING NO CAMPING NO COLLECTION OR BURNING OF WOOD Please Enjoy Your Visit Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sbc Tuesday, September 10, 2019 4:58 PM Martine Watkins; Justin Cummings; Sandy Brown; Drew Glover; Chris Krohn; Cynthia Mathews; Donna Meyers; City Council Clean up Main Beach   I’m very distressed by the camping on main beach.  Over Labor Day weekend I told friends and family with  children from over the hill to not visit the Boardwalk.  This is nothing for children to embrace exposed to in my  view.    I’m sure public access is protected under Coastal Commision laws.     Donna Fitzpatrick Brown  Quintana Ct, Santa Cruz   Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Pete Lombrozo Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:04 PM City Council Beach Curfew Please enforce a strict curfew for Main and nearby beaches. Our city is starting to look like a trash heap right in the crown jewels. Do you really want the city to be known for it's dangerous tourist spots with plenty of needles for your stepping pleasure? I understand that the housing situation is difficult, but you need to accommodate the well-being of an entire city's livelihood before the desires of a few less fortunate. Maybe the campers could stay at not-the-most-desirable-and-valuable property in the region. How about your house? Love, Pete Lombrozo 244 Ross St. 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: trish Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:03 PM City Council main beach camping September 10, 2019 Dear Santa Cruz City Council, Please ban camping on Main Beach, as it is on Cowell’s. I play volleyball at Main about 3 days/week and swim 3-4 days/week and the number of tents has quadrupled in the past few weeks. I was first to arrive yesterday morning and hardly felt safe walking past the gauntlet of homeless men on the way to the beach. The tents and all the stuff surrounding them are unsightly; the sanitation is unhealthy and I don’t want to walk on the dry sand past a tent encampment on my way to the surf. Free camping undermines the State Beaches and other campgrounds. Please reinstate the camping ban. Thank You, Trish Hildinger 1311 King Street Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ronald Elrod Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:11 PM City Council Curfew Main Beach Good afternoon City Council. I want you to know that I support a curfew on the Main Beach. Tents are taking it  over and they should not be allowed to camp overnight.     Thanks,  Ron Elrod     Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Sean Wilson Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:13 PM City Council Main Beach Beach volleyball is the fastest growing sport in the country. Universities all over the country are adding programs, more programs are being added than for any other sport. Universities are using Main Beach for Tournaments including top programs like Stanford, USC and many many more Main Beach is the best beach volleyball venue in Northern California. It is a better venue than in any other state in the country and possibly better than any venue in North America outside of Southern California. People are traveling long distances and paying a lot of money to play on Main Beach and its only going to become more in demand. Does the city council realize how rare and special that beach is? Letting the homeless camp there is SO EMBARRASSING for the locals and it feels like the leadership has no clue how valuable the beach is. Please don't make Santa Cruz a laughing stock and STOP ALLOWING CAMPING ON THE BEACH Thank You, Sean Wilson City Resident and homeowner, born and raised local, parent, and proud member of a quiet yet amazing Santa Cruz volleyball community 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Ronald Elrod Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:18 PM City Council Curfew Main Beach Good evening,  I support a curfew on the Main Beach and want you to vote accordingly!    Denise Elrod     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Susan Downey Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:18 PM City Council Beach Curfew on the Agenda Dear City Council,    I am asking you to please vote in favor of a beach curfew as proposed on the Agenda dated 9/10/19. We need  to keep our beaches safe and free from overnight camping.     Thank you,  Susan Downey   susid1212@sbcglobal.net    Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Charlie Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:23 PM City Council Beach curfew Hi, I am a Santa Cruz city resident and I am in favor of implementing a beach curfew/camping ban. I want to  live in a clean, safe environment and feel a curfew and tent ban would cleanup the beach/ boardwalk area. I  want to know my family and friends are safe in a city I have come to enjoy and call home. Thanks.    Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Carol Siegel Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:30 PM City Council Please implement the curfew As someone who works near the beach you must enact a curfew on the beach.    I wish everyone had a home or a decent place to live. They do not.    But the public beach is not a place to become a tent city. This beach is for everyone, not a few.    Please do what is right. Enact the curfew.    Thank you,    Carol Siegel     Sent from my current location.   1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Taylor Brown Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:37 PM City Council Support of Beach Curfew/Camping Ban Dear City Council,    Enough is enough. This has to stop. Please consider making the beach curfew/camping ban happen as soon as  possible.     Why should we have to risk our families health to go enjoy the beautiful nature in our town. Just yesterday I  counted FIVE Needles at blacks beach off 14th ave. FIVE!!!!!!!! I had to carry my almost 2 year old the entire  time we were at the beach because I was so scared she would STEP OR PICK ONE UP.     It’s time we say no. It’s time we take our town back. Please stop this ruination of our town.     Thank you    Taylor Simpkins (Disgusted and fed up Santa Cruz local and mother)     Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: kimandmiket@yahoo.com Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:52 PM City Council Open Camping at Santa Cruz Beaches Dear City Council,  I am a long time resident of Santa Cruz County.  I am honored and blessed to call this place “home”.  The  beaches of Santa Cruz are beautiful beyond words and a place of rest and relaxation for my family and friends.   I have been told you are considering opening the main beach by the Boardwalk and wharf to overnight  camping.  I am writing to ask that you please do not allow overnight camping at these beautiful beaches.  We  have an extreme homeless problem in Santa Cruz county.  Allowing overnight camping will just draw the  homeless to these beaches along with the abuse of drugs, the waste of needles, and general trash to our  shores.  There are plenty of other places around the county to allow people to camp overnight that does not  interfere with the communities use of our beaches.      I along with many others would not feel safe to bring my family or friends down to the beaches if overnight  camping were allowed.  Please recognize the problems this will bring to our area if you allow camping on the  beaches and find alternative places for people to camp overnight.    Thank you,   Kim Thompson  Scotts Valley Resident     Sent from my iPad    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Lynn Derrick Tuesday, September 10, 2019 8:43 PM City Council homeless camping on beach Dear Santa Cruz City Council,    PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW HOMELESS CAMPING ON ANY BEACH!!  I was a resident of SC county for 25  years and then moved to the Sacramento area.  I come back often to visit.  This would ruin beach life for  residents, visitors and tourists.  The beaches would be destroyed by tents, trash, drugs and scary people.  This  is not fair to the people who pay taxes and spend their hard earned money to enjoy the beach.    There are plenty of homeless shelters for people to stay. Beaches should not be those places.    Thank you,    Lynn Derrick      ‐‐‐  This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.  https://www.avast.com/antivirus      1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: KRISTINA A QUILICI Tuesday, September 10, 2019 7:31 PM City Council Beach camping This is not appropriate to let these homeless drug addicts camp on our beaches. We saw one man shoot up  and toss his needle on the beach today. This is totally unacceptable and you’re going to have another camp  Ross happening so it needs to be put to a stop now I can’t believe our city has let this happen this long.     Kristina     1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Daniel Ortega Tuesday, September 10, 2019 6:47 PM City Council Curfew On the Beach!! A must! Dear Santa Cruz City Council,   As a resident of Santa Cruz city for over 20 years, I feel it’s my duty to inform you that I believe a curfew on  the beach is now necessary. Both of my children have attended junior guards at Cowell’s Beach for the last  three years and find it disturbing when you find transients camping while they’re walking to start their session.  What scares me the most, the fear that one of my kids will step on a discarded needle and I will blame you  guys for not taking care of the situation. Please think about the children of Santa Cruz and your residence  when debating this idea. WE SHOULD COME FIRST!!!  Sent from my iPhone  1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Corbett Wright Tuesday, September 10, 2019 8:38 PM City Council Curfew comments Dear Council Members, Thank you for the opportunity to address the council. I was unable to complete my comments in the time allotted. Here are the balance of my comments. I truly care about our community. Please consider as follows: My name is Corbett Wright, and I own and operate the West Cliff Inn located at 174 West Cliff Drive. I am a law abiding citizen who invests in and gives back to our community by supporting the arts, second harvest, and our schools. Increasingly, I feel that we are under attack by a lawlessness. We have always had a homeless community, which I have endeavored to help through my church, but this is different. The drug use and related crime is seemingly out of control. At the west cliff inn, our occupancy is down in 2019. We have had employees threatened. We have had homeless people sleep on the front porch. We have had homeless people enter the hotel to try to use the bathroom and our microwave. Our complementary guest bikes have been stolen, vehicles have been broken into, needles on the sidewalk, and our landscape has been damaged. Now, the beach near Cowells and the boardwalk are being taken over. Our guests and our employees do not feel safe. TOT is so very important to our City’s financial well-being, and it is already being damaged. My TOT contribution to the City will be down this year, while the national hospitality trends are all up. It is wrong to allow the lawless actions of anyone to destroy our environment and the livelihood our our community. An inscription upon Cambridge City hall to this day reads as follows: “God has given Commandments unto Men. From these Commandments Men have framed Laws by which to be governed. It is honorable and praiseworthy to faithfully serve the people by helping to administer these Laws. If the Laws are not enforced, the People are not well governed.” It is not my intent to offend anyone this evening by referencing God, Man, and the Law nor am I picking on the law abiding homeless community, many of whom are veterans, whom I endeavor to help. Rather, It is my hope that we may learn from our history, and avoid the mistakes of past social injustices by remembering the balance of citizens unalienable rights vs the rights of society to maintain order through equality under the law. Selective enforcement of the law, which indeed balances social justice, is fundamentally different than nonenforcement or non-equal enforcement of the law, which leads to anarchy. 1 Unfortunately, due to political expediency by both major parties in circumventing the law, the very moral brocade of the United States is threatened. I urge you to support the proposed curfew, and please provide our officers with the directive to enforce the proposed curfew on our local beach areas. Thank you for your service to our community. Please feel free to call with any questions. Best, Corbett Wright 174 West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, CA 95060 1(408)205-7998 Sent from my iPhone. Please disregard typos. 2 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mazzei Diane Tuesday, September 10, 2019 6:36 PM City Council NO to Main Beach camping Please record this vote for eliminating main beach camping overnight in Santa Cruz. I am strongly against the city allowing this to occur for the following reasons: 1. Beach Safety - drugs, needles, feces, urine, trash, unsafe people yelling, cursing on beach o The beach is a family place for small children and visitors to enjoy 2. As already proven at Ross Camp once this is allowed it will grow to out of hand numbers 3. Negatively affects tourism and visitors coming to our town to enjoy the beauty of our beaches 4. Affects local enjoyment of our area and quality of life 5. Seems illogical that you can't have a dog off-leash but hundreds of people can camp there and do drugs, pee, poop, litter, and ruin the area for all others Please put into policy the night curfew (no camping) that is place at Cowell's! I am a resident of Santa Cruz, CA. I vote! Diane Mazzei Thank you! Sent from my iPad 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Tom Lynch Tuesday, September 10, 2019 6:23 PM City Council Main beach Please set curfew for main beach.     Tom Lynch    Santa Cruz     Sent from my iPhone    1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Bianchini Tuesday, September 10, 2019 6:07 PM City Council Camping on the beach Dear City Council, Please tell me you are not going to start allowing camping on Main Beach! Please, please don't do that. Try to remember Ross Camp and the clean-up after everyone left. Countless used and discarded syringes were left along with tons of trash. Do you really want that for our beaches? Would you let your children run barefoot through Ross Camp? Think about all of the children and families that use the beach not expecting to find a used syringe hiding in the sand. That alone should be a huge reason not to allow Main Beach to become another Ross Camp. If you don't want to touch this issue because it is a political hot potato, yet knowing full well what the risks are, I think you are leaving the City of Santa Cruz liable for a lawsuit should someone get stuck with a needle or assaulted while on our beach. I don't understand why camping on the beach has not been allowed in the past but now all of a sudden it's OK. Should we start letting people know if New Brighton is full not to worry. Come to Santa Cruz because you can just camp on the beach - and it's free!! Bring your friends too! I understand homeless people need a place to live. Main Beach is just not the right solution. Thank you, Mary Bianchini Santa Cruz 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Rick Miritz Tuesday, September 10, 2019 6:00 PM City Council Dear City council: I am in favor of the proposed curfew and thus camping ban on Main beach. The increase homeless activity is making main beach less safe. I am getting increasingly worried about letting my teen daughter bike down to play volleyball without adult supervision. Please help clean up our main beach so that it will once again be welcoming to visitors and local families. Rick Miritz 1 I spent 3 days and 2 nights camping in a tent on the main beach. They were near perfect nights with friendly people, near-to-no litter, no reports of theft, and with bikes and shoes seen safely rested outside of tents. The sand is sifted with a large machine and tents must be moved daily. City parks workers report no increase in beach garbage. As for urine or defecation, there's no evidence of it anywhere. As for syringes, I saw a single person (out of 40) administering their addictive substance with a needle outside of a tent. I expressed my displeasure with this and they cleaned up their act. There were no syringes anywhere on the ground. There were children playing around and families enjoying the beach among the tents. In a show of confidence, SCPD Chief Andy Mills and Lieutenant Bernie Escalante played barefoot beach volley ball with a group of kids near to the camping area We haven't seen the big influx of people from out of town as I had expected as an effect of the many Bay Area news reports, in fact, last night saw a slight decline in tents. I believe the space can be improved with some collective agreements from the campers regarding community values such as cleanliness and behaviors. There can be no open drug use in a space like this and that's a no-tolerance deal-breaker. I give the camp a 95% rating for goodness. As for my tent, as operator of Warming Center's Day & Night Storage Program, we keep a list of people in need of tents and this one goes to the person topping that list. As a budding documentary filmmaker and social media content-producer with more than 10,000 followers, I work to offer relatively un-biased reports. Brent Adams Program Director - Warming Center, Day and Night Storage & Laundry 7am Saturday, Sept. 7 A photo survey of most of the tents on the beach SCPD Chief of Police, Andy Wells visited the camp area on Saturday, walking tent-to-tent and interacting with people. On any given weekend, one may find dozens of tourists with open containers of alcohol and often litter strewn up and down the entire beach. Yet, this camping area has been kept tidy and safe. In the 3 days of my investigation, the only negative things I found were in the 3 photos below. These are minimal when compared to the larger population of beach-goers and wouldn't have been noticed by most. - 4•411.11.abo ••■_01 4. • —. •, %some ••• - After surveying the beach encampment, police chief Mills and Lt. Bernie Escalante took their shoes off and played beach volleyball with a group of youth. In this photo, Mills is diving for the ball. This is a clear signal that the chief of police feels that the beach is safe. To recap the experience of my personal investigation, I found the encampment to be clean, safe and dignifying. •■ ••-.• EVICTED ONTO THE SIDEWALKS AND DOORWAYS PEOPLE LIVING AT THE POST OFFICE SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 SLEEPING AT THE BEACH — OUR COMMUNITY'S ETHICAL DILEMNA "Julia did they chase you off the Coral Street sidewalk too?" "yea, I think I had slept a couple of hours; it was probably about 2 am when the same patrolman shined a flashlight in my face." "You can't sleep on the sidewalk, blocking a pedestrian," he proclaimed. "There are no pedestrians on the side walk at 2 am," I replied. "And where am I suppose to sleep? The River St. shelter is full. Besides I don't like being restricted as to when I can come and go — their policy." He growled, "OK, but I'm going to have to cite you again for trespassing!" "Julia, let's head downtown, and if that sheltered area by the Post Office is fully occupied, let's go to the beach, down by the wharf." "I hate having to move again. I also feel my period coming. And as a woman,I constantly feel the threat of assault." "I hardly remember having a real bed — a sheet and a blanket." "Let's hope they don't chase us off the beach too. "I don't like having to sleep on the sand, but at least it's a place where we may not be awakened with a policeman standing over us, telling us we are trespassing." "Honey, I'm home." "I'm in the kitchen." "Did the new mattress get delivered today?" • "Yes, I already put sheets and a blanket on it." • "Thank you. I'm really tired. I think I will turn in early. How was your day?" "Fine, I went to the beach. Do you know the homeless have tents down by the wharf?" "That's disgusting. Why can't they sleep where they belong instead of taking up space at our beach?" "Yea. Why don't we ask the City Council to pass another homeless ordinance?" "Call it: Homeless - no beach for sleeping!" "Sounds good to me." "I know it sounds cruel, but we have our rights too." "Most of them are not from Santa Cruz anyway and so many are just addicts who need to kick their habit." "Have a good sleep, honey." "Oh, I forgot to tell you. You'll probably have to chase the dog off the bed. She's already discovered a new place to sleep." "Yea, she's not dumb." "She obviously appreciates having her own comfortable, cozy place to curl up in peaceful slumber." A dog finds a bed on which to sleep. Fellow human being find places to sleep at the beach. So how do we manage and care for our own needs and pleasures while not ignoring others, particularly those whose lives are made painful either by circumstances beyond their control, or by self destructive decisions? Riding my bike with my wife most Sabbath, Saturday, afternoons, with bagels, cream cheese, peanut butter and socks that we give to homeless individuals whom we meet, we see first hand the plight of those living on the street. "Bagels and Bikes." is a project of Conscience and Action. The bagels are generously given to us by the downtown Bagelry, and invariably we get a: "Thanks for what you are doing'? from our bagel recipients. Almost every day, except the Sabbath I also ride my bike to the wharf, selling my, book — The Rabbi and His Famous Friends. Lately, I have seen the increasing number of tents on the beach occupied by the homeless. One of the great ethical maxims in Judaism is that of first century Rabbi, Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself what, kind of person, am I? And if not now when?" The beach and homeless issue is a great example of society's divergent needs, and the ethical dilemma associated with it. All of us want to enjoy our recreational space, including homeless individuals. However, they also have no place to call their own and the beach is a secure area for them to sleep. I believe that this situation can be resolved for everyone concerned if our City Council "thinks outside the box," and mandates a process by which relevant city officials and the homeless meet to work out an agreement that reflects both the needs of beach visitors and the homeless. Yes, this will require some creativity but alleviating the plight of homelessness is a matter of "if not now, when?" Homeless individuals are not going to disappear, nor is the public's right to enjoy the beach. Conscience and Action has suggestions to facilitate and enable such an agreement. Rabbi Posner is, with Steve Pleich. co-chair of Conscience and Action of Santa Cruz. Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Robert M Fitzsimmons Thursday, September 05, 2019 11:16 AM City Council Martine Watkins Main Beach the new Camp Ross ? We've noticed the increase in tents at the Main beach (also Cowell's) to about 2 dozen. This is totally unacceptable. How can anyone in their right mind think this is ok? I'd love to have beach front property, but now I question if I'll ever use this beach as I have in over 40 years. With this being permitted, does that mean that the residents can camp whenever/wherever they want? Will other "outlawed" practices be permitted...... 4th of July fireworks, dogs being able to run free, alcohol and bonfires ? Now that I've vented, I'm sure nothing will be done ..... whom ever is in charge is really screwing up our town.... in any ways Regards G M Fitzsimmons 1 Rosemary Balsley From: Sent: To: Subject: Patrick Mcdonald Thursday, September 05, 2019 12:33 PM City Council Camping on Main Beach and RV’s all over town Hello, I am writing to simply ask that maybe you tell the community what laws you will enforce and which one’s you won’t. Also what income bracket do you need to be in to have to adhere to laws. The main beach camping will soon be ROSS camp and that fact you won’t enforce the law is pathetic. You have shelters for the homeless yet it’s used as an excuse by our police chief to not do his job. Have you noticed all the new arrivals in RV’s all over town. I even see rental RV’s camping on streets. Heck if laws are not enforced why come and get a hotel, or pay for camping spot. Just set up camp anywhere with no deterrent. Outdated tags, trucks with 5th wheels parked for weeks. RV’s illegally parked overnight in multiple spots. Where do you think they are dumping the sewage.. I suspect down the drains at night. Is this the future of our town? Lawless camping on our beaches and RV’s from all over that decided to live at the beach at community expense. Your misguided policies of trying to help a few folks that truly need help are now simply attracting more and more folks to come. The enabling and not enforcing laws works to the detriment of the community. Please start addressing the illegal camping and please start enforcing the illegal parking by RV’s. Thank you, Patrick Mcdonald 1